Psychology at St Catherine University

Based on comparable psychology programs nationwide, St. Catherine graduates can expect first-year earnings around $36,900—right at the national median for this degree. That's the good news. The challenge is that estimated debt of $26,000 sits well above the national median of $16,500 for psychology bachelor's programs, creating a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio that requires careful financial planning in those early career years.

Psychology majors typically face modest starting salaries regardless of where they study, but the debt premium here matters. At $26,000, you're looking at roughly $290 in monthly loan payments on a standard 10-year plan, which takes a meaningful bite from a $3,000 monthly paycheck. Similar programs nationally produce outcomes consistent with these estimates, suggesting the field's broader economic realities rather than anything specific to St. Catherine.

The key question is whether St. Catherine's environment—a women's college serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students—provides value beyond what these aggregate numbers capture. If your child needs graduate training for their psychology career goals, managing this undergraduate debt becomes even more critical. Financially, this works if she can minimize borrowing through scholarships or work-study, but taking on significantly more than $26,000 would strain the return on investment for a field with these typical starting salaries.