Psychology at St. Mary's College of Maryland

Is a psychology bachelor's worth it when you're looking at roughly $37,000 in first-year earnings? Peer programs nationally suggest this is standard territory for psychology graduates—right at the national median—but St. Mary's College appears to deliver one meaningful advantage: estimated debt of $13,750 is notably lower than the $16,472 typical for psychology programs elsewhere. That puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.37, meaning your child would owe less than four months of their first-year salary.

The challenge with psychology at the bachelor's level is that it rarely leads directly to high-paying work without graduate school. Similar programs produce graduates who often need additional credentials to pursue licensed clinical work, which is where psychology salaries really climb. The first-year earnings figure reflects this reality—many graduates are in entry-level roles in human services, case management, or adjacent fields while they figure out next steps. With Maryland having only three psychology programs to choose from, St. Mary's selectivity (75% admission, 1232 SAT average) positions it as a solid mid-tier option, though you're paying for that through tuition rather than seeing it reflected in dramatically different outcomes.

The practical read: if your child is committed to psychology and planning for graduate work, the lower debt load matters more than the modest starting salary. If they're uncertain about grad school, understand they'll be entering a job market where $37,000 is the starting point, not a floor to build from quickly.