Research and Experimental Psychology at New York University

NYU's experimental psychology program produces graduates earning $37,512 their first year—decent for this field nationally but surprisingly middle-of-the-road for New York. While these earnings beat the national median by about $3,000, they fall below the state median and rank only in the 40th percentile among New York programs. For context, peer institutions like Columbia and Barnard see their graduates earning 40-60% more, and even Rochester and Hamilton grads start significantly ahead.

The debt load of $21,499 is manageable—representing just over half a year's salary—but the concerning piece is what you're getting for that investment at such a selective school. NYU admits only 9% of applicants and enrolls students with 1527 average SATs, yet delivers outcomes that trail state competitors. The gap is stark: Columbia grads in this program earn $15,000 more annually despite both schools drawing from similarly elite student pools.

For families paying NYU's premium tuition, these numbers suggest the brand isn't translating to better outcomes in this particular program. Unless your child has specific research opportunities or faculty connections that justify the choice, similarly-ranked schools are demonstrably delivering more earning power for experimental psychology graduates in the New York market.