Psychology at Northern State University

Psychology majors in South Dakota typically start around $35,400 and carry about $25,600 in debt—figures that Northern State's program likely mirrors based on peer institutions across the state. That 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable monthly payments, though not generous breathing room. By year four, earnings climb to just over $50,000, which represents solid mid-career momentum and outpaces the national psychology median of $31,500 by a comfortable margin.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates—Northern State's graduating class was too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. Looking at other South Dakota psychology programs that did report data, there's considerable variation: Augustana graduates start near $39,000 while University of Sioux Falls graduates begin closer to $27,000. Northern State could fall anywhere in that range, though the statewide median suggests middle-of-the-pack performance is most likely.

For parents weighing this investment, the four-year earnings figure offers reassurance that psychology graduates who stick with related fields see meaningful growth. But given the uncertainty around actual outcomes at this specific campus, it's worth directly asking Northern State's career services office what their psychology graduates are doing—particularly whether those $50,000+ earners are working in psychology-adjacent roles or have pursued additional credentials to get there.