Analysis
Sinclair's associate psychology program faces a challenging reality: while it outperforms most programs nationally, it significantly lags behind Ohio's median earnings of $38,019—placing it in just the 25th percentile statewide. Your child would graduate making about $30,000, roughly $8,000 less annually than peers at University of Cincinnati's branch campuses. That's not a trivial gap for a household budget.
The debt picture offers some relief. At $13,661, graduates carry manageable loans—about $4,000 less than Ohio's median for psychology associates programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 means repayment should be feasible, though the modest starting salary leaves little cushion. Earnings do inch upward over four years, reaching $31,610, but that trajectory suggests this degree functions more as a stepping stone than a career foundation.
Here's the practical question: Is your child planning to transfer to a four-year program, or hoping this associate's will launch them into the workforce? If transferring, Sinclair's lower debt burden makes sense as an affordable bridge. But if they expect this degree to stand alone, other Ohio schools deliver substantially better immediate earning potential for similar or comparable debt loads. The numbers suggest treating this as the first chapter, not the whole story.
Where Sinclair Community College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all psychology associates's programs nationally
Earnings Distribution
How Sinclair Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
| School | 1 Year | 4 Years | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinclair Community College | $29,717 | $31,610 | +6% |
| Bunker Hill Community College | $37,256 | $48,088 | +29% |
| Delaware County Community College | $17,269 | $37,164 | +115% |
| Oklahoma City Community College | $28,679 | $36,863 | +29% |
| Salt Lake Community College | $32,619 | $34,928 | +7% |
Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio
Psychology associates's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (13 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,435 | $29,717 | $31,610 | $13,661 | 0.46 | |
| $13,570 | $38,019 | — | $17,999 | 0.47 | |
| $6,554 | $38,019 | — | $17,999 | 0.47 | |
| $6,992 | $38,019 | — | $17,999 | 0.47 | |
| National Median | — | $26,232 | — | $11,198 | 0.43 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with psychology graduates
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Psychologists, All Other
Neuropsychologists
Clinical Neuropsychologists
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Managers, All Other
Loss Prevention Managers
Social Science Research Assistants
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Sinclair Community College, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Sample Size: Based on 35 graduates with reported earnings and 66 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.