Psychology at Mount Mercy University

Mount Mercy's psychology graduates earn $34,536 in their first year—about $3,000 above the national median for psychology majors and roughly on par with Iowa's state median. While this program ranks in the 74th percentile nationally, it sits closer to the middle of the pack within Iowa (60th percentile), where several smaller schools like Upper Iowa and Waldorf report significantly higher early earnings. The $26,882 in median debt is actually below both national and state averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 that's quite manageable for a psychology degree.

The caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates provided data, so these figures could shift considerably year to year. Still, the combination of below-average debt and above-average national earnings suggests Mount Mercy isn't overcharging for the outcomes it delivers. Psychology majors typically need graduate school for career advancement, so keeping undergraduate debt relatively low is particularly important for this field.

For Iowa families considering a psychology major in-state, Mount Mercy offers solid value without standout returns. The program won't position graduates at the top of Iowa's psychology market, but the modest debt load leaves room for the graduate education most psychology careers require.