Psychology at Monroe Community College

Monroe Community College's psychology associate graduates earn just under $20,000 in their first year—nearly $2,000 below New York's state median and roughly $6,300 less than the national average. Within New York, that puts them at the 40th percentile, well behind programs like Rockland Community College ($38,571) or LaGuardia Community College ($24,052). The 13th percentile ranking nationally suggests this program struggles to translate even to entry-level career opportunities that typically follow psychology degrees.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $8,875, graduates carry less than the state median and considerably less than the national average. With a 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio, students would dedicate nearly half their first year's income to repaying loans—manageable in absolute dollars but representing a substantial burden given how modest those earnings are. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably year to year, though that also raises questions about the program's scale and employer connections.

For families considering this route, understand that an associate's in psychology typically serves as a stepping stone rather than a career endpoint. If your child plans to transfer to a four-year program, Monroe could work as an affordable starting point. But if they're seeking immediate career entry after two years, these earnings suggest limited opportunities—you might explore whether Monroe's other programs offer better returns, or whether starting at a higher-performing CUNY campus makes more financial sense.