Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at Mount Saint Mary's University

Mount Saint Mary's psychology graduates start with challenging first-year earnings of just $21,473—ranking in the bottom 5% nationally and 25th percentile in California—but the trajectory shifts dramatically by year four, when median earnings jump to nearly $50,000. This 132% growth rate suggests graduates are either pursuing additional credentials or transitioning into higher-paying roles, though that initial year requires significant financial support.

The $27,000 debt load appears manageable relative to four-year earnings but creates real strain in year one, with graduates owing more than their entire annual salary. Among California's 19 programs, Mount Saint Mary's ranks below the state median of $29,457, and significantly trails accessible alternatives like Cal State San Bernardino ($40,316) and Cal State LA ($29,457). With 55% of students on Pell grants, many graduates are navigating this earnings gap without family financial cushions.

The fundamental question is whether your family can absorb that difficult first year—and whether the program's structure (perhaps positioning graduates for graduate school or clinical licensing) justifies the delayed payoff. If immediate earnings matter, the CSU alternatives offer stronger starting positions. If the four-year outcome is the target and you can manage the early gap, the trajectory becomes more defensible, though you'd want to understand exactly what drives that improvement before committing.