Psychology at Saint Vincent College

Saint Vincent's psychology graduates start at just $24,155—ranking in the bottom 5% nationally and well below Pennsylvania's typical outcomes for this major. While the program shows strong earnings growth of 63% by year four, that still only brings graduates to $39,255, roughly matching the state median. Given that Pennsylvania's psychology programs already lag behind the national average, this trajectory suggests students here face a particularly difficult launch period.

The debt picture complicates matters further. At $27,000, graduates carry more than a full year's starting salary in loans—a concerning ratio when entry-level earnings barely clear $24,000. Compare this to stronger Pennsylvania programs: Bucknell and Gettysburg graduates earn more than double Saint Vincent's starting salary, and even mid-tier options like King's College ($39,818) start graduates at nearly 65% higher pay.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift, but they point to a fundamental challenge: psychology majors at Saint Vincent face both lower starting salaries and delayed earnings growth compared to peers across Pennsylvania. Unless your child has significant financial aid reducing that $27,000 debt load, or plans to immediately pursue graduate education where those early earnings matter less, this program represents a tough financial start that takes years to overcome.