Psychology at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University's psychology program shows troubling economics that can't be fully dismissed despite the small sample size. While graduates earn $26,291 in their first year—slightly below the state median but in the bottom quarter nationally—the real concern is the $39,265 in debt they carry. That's 63% higher than the typical Texas psychology graduate and roughly double what psychology students typically borrow nationwide.

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.49 means graduates owe one and a half times their first-year salary, which translates to difficult repayment timelines even on income-driven plans. Among the 72 Texas schools offering psychology degrees, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile for earnings while carrying significantly above-average debt. Top Texas programs like UT Permian Basin ($46,009) and TCU ($42,108) demonstrate what stronger outcomes look like in the state.

The university serves a predominantly low-income student population (71% receive Pell grants), which makes the debt burden particularly concerning. While the small sample means individual circumstances could skew these numbers, the gap between what graduates earn and what they owe suggests this particular path carries meaningful financial risk. If psychology is the goal, exploring other public Texas options with more manageable debt loads would be prudent.