Psychology at Seattle Pacific University

Seattle Pacific's psychology program outearns 95% of psychology programs nationwide, with graduates earning $40,264 in their first year—nearly $7,000 above the state median and $9,000 above the national benchmark. That said, this still ranks only at the 60th percentile within Washington, a state where psychology programs generally perform better than the national average. The $26,000 in typical debt, while slightly above Washington's median for this field, translates to a manageable 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio, and earnings climb 20% to reach $48,119 by year four.

The tradeoff here is clear: your child will earn more than most psychology graduates nationally but less than graduates from Seattle University or several public universities in Washington. At an institution with a 91% acceptance rate, Seattle Pacific provides a reliable path to above-average outcomes without the admissions pressure of more selective schools. For families who value the university's mission-driven environment and want solid earnings potential without crushing debt, this represents a sensible choice—just recognize that other Washington options deliver comparable or better financial outcomes, often with lower debt loads.