Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at Pace University

Pace University's psychology program delivers something rare for this field: earnings that actually grow substantially after graduation. While graduates start at $40,671—already well above both the national and New York state medians—they see income jump 42% to $57,765 by year four. That trajectory matters in a discipline where many bachelor's degree holders struggle to reach $35,000 even years into their careers.

The $26,000 debt load sits slightly below the national average and, importantly, creates a manageable 0.64 ratio to first-year earnings. This represents better financial positioning than 83% of similar programs nationwide. Within New York, the picture is more competitive—several CUNY schools achieve higher starting salaries—but Pace's combination of strong earnings growth and moderate debt still delivers solid value, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide.

The real question for families is whether this upward earnings trend reflects Pace's professional network and New York City location helping graduates move into higher-paying adjacent fields, or if it's sustainable within psychology itself. Either way, at these debt levels and with this earnings trajectory, the program offers a clearer path to financial stability than most undergraduate psychology degrees provide.