Psychology at Purdue University Global

Purdue University Global's psychology program graduates earn slightly above the national average but trail the Indiana median by about $5,000 annually—putting them in the 40th percentile statewide. The real concern isn't the earnings trajectory, which shows healthy 21% growth to nearly $39,000 by year four. It's the debt load: at $57,500, graduates carry more than double the typical burden for psychology majors both nationally and in Indiana, where the median hovers around $26,000.

That math creates immediate financial pressure. With first-year earnings around $32,000 and debt nearly twice that amount, graduates face monthly payments that will consume a significant chunk of their income. Compare this to Indiana State, where graduates earn $3,700 more annually right out of the gate, presumably with far less debt to manage. The cost structure here doesn't align with psychology's earning potential—this is a field where keeping undergraduate debt low matters enormously, especially for the 48% of students receiving Pell grants who likely have limited family resources to fall back on.

For a parent weighing this program, the question is whether the online convenience and Purdue affiliation justify paying premium tuition for average outcomes. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend remotely, Indiana offers multiple psychology programs that deliver comparable or better earnings without the debt burden. The degree itself isn't the problem—the price is.