Research and Experimental Psychology at Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue's Research and Experimental Psychology program starts graduates at $31,172—below the national median but exactly matching Indiana's typical outcomes for this degree. What sets this program apart is the trajectory: earnings jump 38% to $43,070 by year four, placing graduates well above the national 75th percentile for the field. That's an unusually strong growth curve for a psychology bachelor's degree, where many programs plateau quickly.

The debt picture is reasonable at $19,500, creating a manageable 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio in that first year. While Purdue ranks in just the 26th percentile nationally for starting salaries, remember that psychology is geographically sensitive—$31,000 goes further in Indiana than coastal markets. More relevant is that this program ranks 60th percentile among Indiana's six psychology programs, essentially middle-of-the-pack locally despite Purdue's strong academic reputation.

The value proposition here depends on patience. If your child needs immediate post-graduation earnings to justify the investment, this isn't the strongest option. But if they're using this degree as a foundation—whether for graduate school, research positions, or careers where psychology training provides an edge—that 38% earnings growth suggests the Purdue credential opens doors over time. The relatively modest debt makes it a defensible choice for students committed to psychology, particularly those staying in the Midwest where the cost-of-living advantage matters.