Psychology at The College of Idaho

The College of Idaho's psychology graduates earn notably more than their peers, ranking in the 77th percentile nationally and 60th percentile statewide. At $34,904 in year one and $42,320 by year four, these outcomes surpass Idaho's median by 23% initially and beat the national benchmark by 11%. That's a meaningful advantage for a degree that often struggles with early earnings—nationally, half of psychology graduates start below $31,500.

The $26,000 in debt sits right at typical levels for psychology programs, but it's the earnings trajectory that makes this manageable. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 suggests graduates can handle their loans without major strain, and the 21% earnings growth through year four shows clear momentum. While some psychology programs see graduates stuck in entry-level roles, this program appears to be opening doors to better-paying positions relatively quickly.

The main caveat: these figures come from fewer than 30 graduates, so they could shift with more data. But compared to larger Idaho programs like Boise State ($30,865) and the University of Idaho ($28,289), the earnings advantage is consistent enough to take seriously. For Idaho families concerned about psychology's reputation as a financially risky major, this program demonstrates it's possible to graduate with reasonable debt and earnings that actually compete.