Psychology at Presbyterian College

That first-year salary of $23,510 tells you something important: Presbyterian College psychology graduates are starting significantly behind—not just the national median for this major ($31,482), but also South Carolina's state median ($27,532). While the program sits at the 40th percentile statewide, that's misleading context when you see that peer schools like Charleston Southern and Wofford are placing graduates at $35,000+. The debt load of $26,717 isn't outrageous, but paired with those initial earnings, you're looking at more than a full year's income just to cover loans.

The 79% earnings jump by year four offers some relief—reaching $42,022 suggests graduates eventually find their footing—but that challenging launch year matters. Students will be scraping by or relying on financial support while peers from other SC programs start $10,000-12,000 ahead. One critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could swing considerably with just a few outliers. A small program means less stability in outcomes.

If your child is set on psychology at Presbyterian, understand they're accepting a difficult first few years post-graduation. The program isn't positioning them competitively within South Carolina, let alone nationally. Unless there's a compelling personal reason to choose this school—strong mentorship, specific research opportunities, or family circumstances—there are clearer paths to a psychology degree in this state.