Psychology at Northwestern University

Northwestern's psychology bachelor's leads to surprisingly modest initial earnings—$36,890 puts it at the national median, though it ranks slightly better (60th percentile) among Illinois programs. For one of the nation's most selective universities (7% admission rate, 1526 average SAT), these starting salaries may catch families off guard.

The real story here is trajectory: earnings jump 61% by year four, reaching nearly $60,000. This growth pattern suggests many graduates pursue competitive positions that require time to land, or enter fields where Northwestern's prestige compounds over time. The $11,630 median debt is genuinely low—well below the national $16,472 median for psychology majors—and with a 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates can manage repayment even during those leaner first years.

However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable. This could mean Northwestern psychology grads scatter across diverse career paths, or that many pursue graduate school immediately, skewing the working graduate pool. For a family paying Northwestern's premium, this program is a longer-term bet: you're banking on the network and credential opening doors that fully materialize after year one, not on immediate post-graduation earnings that justify the investment.