Psychology at Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst's psychology program shows modest earnings that fall below Pennsylvania's state median—graduates start around $32,000 but see solid growth to $43,000 by year four. That 34% earnings bump is encouraging, but the 40th percentile ranking among Pennsylvania schools means nearly two-thirds of in-state programs produce better early outcomes. With debt around $26,000, you're looking at a manageable but not impressive debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82, roughly tracking with national averages.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable than data from larger programs. That matters when you're comparing to established Pennsylvania psychology programs: Bucknell and Gettysburg grads earn 50% more right out of school, and even mid-tier options like Drexel outpace Mercyhurst by $7,000 annually. The question for families is whether Mercyhurst's 83% admission rate and presumably more accessible environment justifies the earnings gap.

For a psychology degree that often requires graduate school anyway, starting $26,000 in debt isn't catastrophic—but you're not getting a bargain either. If your child is set on Mercyhurst for fit or location, this program won't derail their finances. But if affordability and ROI are priorities, exploring higher-ranked Pennsylvania programs or considering whether a less expensive state school could deliver similar outcomes makes sense.