Psychology at Texas Christian University

TCU's psychology graduates earn substantially more than most of their peers—$42,108 in the first year ranks in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile in Texas, where the median psychology graduate earns just $31,000. That's a significant premium given that psychology is typically one of the lower-earning bachelor's degrees. The $23,412 in median debt is also slightly below both the state and national averages for psychology programs, making the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 quite manageable. Graduates should be able to pay this off within a few years even on modest salaries.

The 16% earnings growth to nearly $49,000 by year four suggests TCU graduates are finding paths to better-paying positions, whether through graduate school preparation, corporate roles, or professional development. This matters in a field where many entry-level positions pay around $35,000. TCU's stronger academic profile (average SAT of 1303, 43% admission rate) likely contributes to these outcomes—employers may value both the degree and the institution's selectivity.

For a psychology major, this is about as good as it gets at the bachelor's level without moving into clinical or highly specialized fields. The combination of above-average starting pay and below-average debt makes TCU a sound choice if your child is committed to psychology and willing to invest in the private school premium.