Research and Experimental Psychology at Mount Holyoke College

Mount Holyoke's psychology program produces first-year earnings nearly $6,000 below the Massachusetts median—a significant gap that places graduates in the bottom quarter of comparable state programs. For a selective liberal arts college charging private school tuition, these outcomes trail not just elite competitors like Tufts and Amherst, but also nearby peer institution Smith College by over $11,000. The debt load of $24,250 is fairly typical, but when paired with $32,439 in starting earnings, it creates a less favorable financial picture than most families would expect from a school with a 1422 average SAT.

The program does fare slightly better against national benchmarks, sitting near the middle of the pack among all experimental psychology programs. However, this reflects more on the field's generally modest early earnings than on Mount Holyoke's particular strength. Psychology majors often pursue graduate education or enter helping professions where salaries start low but grow with credentials and experience.

For families paying full private college costs, this represents a challenging return on investment in the immediate term. If your daughter is committed to psychology and values Mount Holyoke's educational environment, understand you're making a long-term bet on outcomes that may not materialize for years. If finances are a primary concern, the in-state public option or schools showing stronger placement outcomes deserve serious consideration.