Psychology at Pacific University

Pacific University's psychology graduates start at $34,930—outpacing both the national median by $3,400 and the Oregon median by $2,500. While that 60th percentile state ranking might seem modest, they're essentially tied with programs at Oregon State and Linfield, the state's top performers for psychology earnings. The $27,000 debt load sits comfortably below both state and national medians, creating a manageable 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio from day one.

The trajectory here is particularly encouraging: earnings jump 38% by year four, reaching $48,027. That's the kind of growth that makes early career belt-tightening worthwhile. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year—a few outlier graduates can dramatically move the averages.

For Oregon families, this represents solid value. Your child isn't paying premium debt for below-average outcomes, which is the trap many psychology programs create. The combination of relatively low debt and above-median earnings both in-state and nationally suggests Pacific is doing something right with career preparation or student selection. Just understand that psychology as a field typically requires graduate work for higher-earning positions, so these numbers likely reflect graduates in entry-level social services, HR, or continuing to advanced degrees.