Psychology at Swarthmore College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 is solid—based on comparable psychology programs, graduates would carry about seven months of their first-year salary in loans. The estimated $26,000 debt falls below Pennsylvania's median of $27,000 for psychology degrees, though both figures substantially exceed the national median of $16,472. Given Swarthmore's 7% admission rate and 1527 average SAT, students here likely have options at institutions where actual outcome data exists and may show stronger results.

The $36,890 estimated first-year earnings align exactly with national psychology medians, which raises questions about whether a highly selective liberal arts education produces a premium in this field. Psychology bachelor's graduates nationally span a wide range—the 75th percentile earns $47,348—but without program-specific data from Swarthmore, it's impossible to know where these graduates land in that distribution. The 20% Pell grant rate suggests meaningful financial diversity, making the debt load particularly relevant for families weighing aid packages.

For families considering Swarthmore specifically for psychology, the absence of reported outcomes means you're making a significant financial commitment based on institutional reputation rather than demonstrated results in this major. If your child is choosing between Swarthmore and schools with stronger reported psychology outcomes, let the data guide you—elite admissions standards don't automatically translate to superior earnings in every field.