Psychology at Marymount University

Marymount's psychology program shows promising earnings growth but comes with a significant caveat: the data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than larger programs. That said, the trajectory is encouraging—graduates see their median earnings jump 58% from $33,277 in year one to $52,616 by year four. This puts them above 60% of Virginia psychology programs, outpacing both the state median ($32,142) and national median ($31,482). The relatively modest debt load of $27,000 means graduates start with a manageable 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio, better than most psychology programs nationally.

The real question is whether that small sample size reflects genuine program outcomes or statistical noise. The earnings growth pattern suggests graduates are finding their footing after an initially modest start—common for psychology majors who often need graduate school or career pivoting to reach higher salaries. While the year-four earnings look solid, they still trail the state's top programs (VMI and William & Mary both exceed $36,000 in year one).

For a parent whose child is certain about psychology, the debt level is reasonable and the growth trajectory is positive. Just recognize these numbers could shift substantially with a larger graduate cohort, and psychology typically requires advanced degrees for the highest-paying clinical and research roles.