Psychology at Susquehanna University

Susquehanna's psychology graduates earn $28,186 in their first year—about $5,200 below Pennsylvania's median for this major and roughly $3,300 below the national average. This places the program in the bottom quarter statewide, a significant gap considering Pennsylvania has 83 psychology programs to choose from. For context, several comparable PA liberal arts colleges see their psychology graduates earning $40,000-$50,000 in that first year.

The debt load of $27,000 matches Pennsylvania's state median, which means you're paying typical amounts for below-typical outcomes. With nearly dollar-for-dollar debt compared to first-year earnings, new graduates face real financial pressure. A $28,000 salary translates to roughly $2,350 monthly before taxes, making those loan payments challenging while covering basic living expenses. Psychology majors often pursue graduate degrees or pivot to different career paths, but this starting point makes either choice more difficult.

If your child is set on psychology at a private liberal arts college, understand they'll likely need family financial support in those early years or a clear plan for how their career will progress beyond entry-level positions. The 79% admission rate suggests Susquehanna is accessible, but accessibility doesn't offset the economic reality of starting $5,000 behind state peers in a field that already tends toward modest early earnings.