Psychology at Southwest Baptist University

Southwest Baptist's psychology program leaves graduates earning less than the Missouri median, ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide—a significant gap when schools like Avila and Rockhurst are producing graduates who earn $6,000+ more annually. Starting at $30,870, these graduates trail both state and national benchmarks, and while earnings do climb 23% by year four, they're still playing catch-up to where peers from stronger programs began.

The debt load of $26,348 is actually slightly better than average, creating a manageable 0.85 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, "manageable" shouldn't be confused with "optimal"—when you're starting behind and staying behind other Missouri programs, even reasonable debt becomes harder to justify. The 100% admission rate and modest average SAT scores suggest this may be the right fit for students who need access over selectivity, but families should recognize they're trading program strength for that accessibility.

For students committed to psychology and Southwest Baptist specifically, understand you're choosing a below-average outcome in a field that's already challenging economically. If graduate school is the plan, these starting numbers matter less. But if your child hopes to work straight after graduation, exploring psychology programs at Avila, Rockhurst, or even Central Methodist would likely mean starting their career with thousands more in annual earning power—a gap that compounds significantly over time.