Psychology at Piedmont University

Piedmont University's psychology program places graduates in a financially precarious starting position, with first-year earnings of just $23,665—nearly $5,000 below Georgia's state median and far below what students carry in debt. At $33,000, the debt burden exceeds that first year's salary by 39%, creating immediate financial stress that rivals some of the weakest psychology programs nationally. Even comparing to nearby options, graduates start roughly $12,000 behind Brenau or Life University alumni.

The picture does improve substantially—earnings jump 51% to $35,611 by year four, eventually surpassing both state and national medians. This suggests graduates who can weather those difficult early years may find solid footing. However, the small sample size here (fewer than 30 graduates) means these figures could swing considerably year to year, and you're essentially betting on limited data.

For parents considering this program, the question is whether your child can manage that challenging launch period. With Piedmont's 93% admission rate and lower academic profile, students may lack the financial cushion or family support to absorb two to three years of near-poverty wages while servicing $33,000 in loans. Unless there's a compelling personal reason to attend Piedmont specifically, Georgia offers multiple psychology programs—including larger state schools—that start students on firmer financial ground from day one.