Psychology at Otterbein University

Otterbein's psychology program starts graduates at $29,604—below both the state median ($30,682) and national average ($31,482), though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual outcomes could vary significantly. At 40th percentile among Ohio psychology programs, this places graduates firmly in the bottom half of the state, notably trailing schools like Kenyon ($39,203) and Muskingum ($37,636). The 30% earnings jump to $38,492 by year four helps close the gap, but many graduates will be entering the workforce behind their Ohio peers.

The debt picture is standard for psychology programs at $25,210—roughly matching both state and national medians. With first-year earnings below $30,000, the 0.85 debt-to-earnings ratio means new graduates face nearly a full year's salary in loans, which can strain budgets during entry-level positions that psychology BAs typically fill (counseling assistants, case workers, HR coordinators). Given that psychology is often a stepping stone to graduate school, starting with less competitive earnings could matter if you're budgeting for additional education costs.

The limited data makes this harder to assess definitively, but the trend is clear: Otterbein's psychology graduates begin their careers earning less than most of their Ohio counterparts. If your child is considering this program, the key questions are whether they can graduate with even less debt through scholarships or whether a stronger-performing Ohio program might be within reach.