Research and Experimental Psychology at Mount St. Mary's University

Mount St. Mary's psychology graduates start at $34,454—roughly tracking the national median but landing in just the 25th percentile among Maryland's three programs offering this degree. That's a significant gap: the state median sits at $41,744, meaning graduates here earn about $7,300 less than their in-state peers. Johns Hopkins, the top program in Maryland, shows first-year earnings of $49,035, though that's an unfair comparison given the selectivity difference.

The debt picture is more balanced. At $21,500, it matches both national and state medians exactly, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. Graduates should be able to handle loan payments, though the lower starting salary means less breathing room than at other Maryland programs. The 34% earnings growth over four years is encouraging, bringing graduates to $46,052 by year four, though that still leaves them playing catch-up with peers who started ahead.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary widely. For Maryland families comparing in-state options, this program underperforms the state median despite charging similar debt levels. Unless there are compelling non-financial reasons to choose Mount St. Mary's—campus fit, specific research opportunities, or geographic preference for a rural setting—Maryland families should carefully examine how other in-state programs stack up before committing.