Psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Metropolitan State's psychology program earns a 94th percentile ranking nationally—outperforming nearly all of the 1,400 colleges offering this degree. At $37,702 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $6,200 more than the typical psychology bachelor's holder nationwide. But zoom into Colorado specifically, and the picture shifts: this program sits at the 60th percentile among the state's 16 psychology programs, trailing flagship options like CSU-Fort Collins but clustered with several other credible alternatives.

The debt load of $24,591 translates to a 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio—manageable territory for a psychology degree, which often struggles with post-graduation earning power. Graduates see modest but steady income growth, reaching nearly $41,000 by year four. For a psychology BA, that's solid progression rather than the stagnation you sometimes see in this field.

For parents weighing this option: your child gets a nationally strong psychology program at an accessible institution (99% admission rate) without taking on crushing debt. The value proposition works particularly well if your student needs an open-access school or qualifies for in-state tuition. Just understand they're not getting CSU-level outcomes—they're getting slightly above-average results for Colorado at a price point that won't handicap their next steps, whether that's grad school or entering the workforce directly.