Psychology at Siena College

Siena's psychology program demonstrates something unusual: graduates who start modestly actually see their earnings accelerate dramatically. While first-year earnings of $32,022 barely exceed national and state averages, four years later these same graduates earn $50,477—a 58% jump that suggests the degree opens doors that take time to unlock. The relatively low debt load of $27,000 (below both state and national medians) means graduates aren't financially strained during those crucial early years when they're building experience or pursuing additional credentials.

Within New York's crowded psychology landscape—92 programs compete here—Siena ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, placing it solidly in the upper half despite having a first-year number that looks unremarkable. That gap between modest beginnings and strong four-year outcomes is the story: this isn't a program that produces immediate high earners, but it appears to prepare students for career progression. Whether graduates are leveraging the degree for graduate school, pivoting into adjacent fields like human resources or social services, or simply gaining traction in traditional psychology roles, something is working.

The math works out to reasonable risk. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84 in year one, graduates face manageable payments while they're establishing themselves. For families comfortable with a degree that builds value over time rather than delivering instant returns, this represents a viable path—just understand you're investing in trajectory, not immediate payoff.