Psychology at Shenandoah University

Shenandoah's psychology program outperforms most similar programs nationally, landing in the 74th percentile for graduate earnings—though the small graduating class means these numbers could shift considerably year to year. While first-year earnings of $34,531 start modestly, they jump 38% by year four to $47,605, a growth trajectory that suggests graduates are finding their footing in careers beyond entry-level positions. Among Virginia's 41 psychology programs, this ranks solidly in the 60th percentile, trailing schools like VMI and William & Mary but still ahead of the state median.

The $26,000 debt load matches both state and national medians, creating a manageable 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one that improves significantly as salaries climb. For psychology—a field where many graduates pursue graduate education or need time to build specialized skills—this trajectory makes sense. The program appears to position students well for that longer-term career development.

The caveat: with fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, a few outliers could be skewing these results higher or lower than typical. If your child is certain about psychology and comfortable with the earnings reality of the field, this program seems to deliver reasonable outcomes without excessive debt. Just recognize you're looking at a snapshot that might not perfectly predict future results.