Psychology at Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University's Psychology program graduates earn notably less than their peers across Utah, where seven of eight schools report higher first-year earnings. At $27,146, graduates start below even Utah's state median ($33,210) by roughly $6,000—a meaningful gap when other public universities like Utah Tech and Weber State are launching psychology grads into the low-$30,000s. The program ranks in just the 25th percentile statewide and 17th nationally, signaling consistent underperformance relative to alternatives within reasonable reach.

The saving grace here is exceptionally low debt. At $11,359, graduates carry less than half the national median for psychology programs and well below Utah's typical $18,500. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, meaning most graduates can realistically pay off loans within a year or two of full-time work. Earnings do grow 16% by year four, reaching $31,561, though that still trails what peers earn right out of the gate at competing programs.

For families prioritizing minimal debt over maximum earning potential, this works—you're trading roughly $6,000 in annual earnings for about $7,000 less in debt compared to state averages. But if your student is academically competitive enough to access Utah's stronger psychology programs, the higher initial earnings elsewhere would likely offset any modest additional borrowing within the first year of work.