Psychology at Ottawa University-Milwaukee

Ottawa University-Milwaukee's psychology program posts first-year earnings of $39,596—substantially above the national median of $31,482 and ahead of the Wisconsin state median by over $4,000. That 95th percentile national ranking is impressive, though the 60th percentile state ranking reveals that Wisconsin psychology programs generally perform well, with several schools achieving even higher outcomes. Still, graduates here out-earn those from major state universities like UW-Whitewater and UW-Superior.

The debt picture reinforces the value: at $27,562, graduates carry only slightly more than the national median despite significantly higher earnings. The 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio means students can reasonably expect to pay off their loans within a manageable timeframe. For a private university serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (46%), these outcomes suggest effective career preparation without the debt burden that often accompanies private education.

For parents weighing this program, the fundamentals look solid. Your child would graduate earning more than most psychology majors nationally while taking on reasonable debt. The fact that other Wisconsin programs achieve slightly higher earnings shouldn't overshadow the core value here—this isn't bottom-tier performance disguised by national comparisons, it's genuinely strong preparation in a field where many graduates struggle to launch careers.