Psychology at McKendree University

McKendree's psychology graduates start modestly at $32K but see impressive 36% earnings growth by year four—reaching $43K puts them well ahead of typical psychology majors nationally. However, relative to other Illinois psychology programs, this is a middle-of-the-pack outcome, landing in just the 40th percentile statewide despite being near the national median.

The debt picture requires careful consideration. At $23,250, it's slightly below both state and national averages, and the 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than a year's starting salary—manageable for a psychology degree. The strong earnings trajectory helps: by year four, that debt represents barely half of annual income. Still, starting at $32K means the first few years will likely require careful budgeting, especially compared to Illinois leaders like Northwestern ($44K starting) or even mid-tier programs like National Louis ($36K).

For families looking at McKendree, the key question is whether the university's other strengths justify the relatively average earnings for Illinois. The growth curve is encouraging and suggests graduates find their footing, but you're not getting an earnings premium that would justify significant additional cost over state schools. If McKendree is financially comparable to public options and offers a better fit culturally or academically, the numbers work. If it requires substantially more borrowing or out-of-pocket expense, that's harder to justify given the earnings performance.