Psychology at Missouri State University-Springfield

The small sample size here makes definitive judgments tricky, but Missouri State's psychology certificate shows a troubling pattern: graduates earn barely above minimum wage ($30,134) while carrying over $26,000 in debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 means nearly a full year's salary would go toward repaying loans—a heavy burden for someone making just $2,500 monthly before taxes.

The state percentile of 60th sounds encouraging until you realize there are only two programs in Missouri offering this credential, making the comparison essentially meaningless. Nationally, this program sits at the bottom 5th percentile for earnings while paradoxically carrying more debt than 95% of comparable programs. That's a red flag: you're paying more to earn less.

For a psychology certificate specifically, the entire credential type appears questionable. With only 56 programs nationwide and median earnings barely reaching $30,000, this isn't a pathway with strong market validation. If your child is genuinely interested in psychology, a full bachelor's degree—which typically yields $40,000-$45,000 starting salaries—makes far more financial sense than stopping at a certificate with limited career utility and outsized debt relative to earnings potential.