Psychology at Notre Dame College

Notre Dame College's psychology program outperforms most Ohio schools in its category, landing in the 60th percentile statewide—a meaningful achievement given that 74 schools compete in this space. While the $32,526 starting salary trails elite programs like Kenyon by $7,000, it exceeds both the state median ($30,682) and national median ($31,482). The debt load of $30,623 is higher than typical for Ohio psychology programs (state median: $25,000), but the near 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically manage payments without severe financial strain.

The 12% earnings bump from year one to year four signals decent career traction, with salaries reaching $36,278—approaching what John Carroll graduates earn right out of the gate. For a school with an 80% admission rate serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients, these outcomes represent solid economic mobility. Psychology majors here aren't getting wealthy quickly, but they're doing as well or better than most of their peers across Ohio.

The practical reality: this program works if your child is committed to psychology and needs an accessible entry point into the field. The debt is manageable rather than crushing, and the earnings trajectory suggests graduates find steady work. Just understand that psychology bachelor's degrees rarely lead to high early earnings anywhere—this program's value lies in performing above average within those constraints.