Psychology at The University of Tennessee-Martin

UT-Martin's psychology program lands squarely in the middle for Tennessee but struggles against national competition, with first-year earnings of $27,433 placing graduates in just the 19th percentile nationwide. While the debt load of $26,373 is roughly on par with similar programs, that near 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates are essentially carrying a full year's salary in student loans—a heavy burden for a field known for requiring graduate work to reach higher income levels. Within Tennessee, the program performs at the median, which puts it behind several in-state options like MTSU ($32,433) and well behind private schools like Rhodes ($37,563).

The 15% earnings bump over four years brings graduates to $31,599, but even this longer-term figure barely matches what psychology graduates earn nationally right out of college. For parents considering this program, the central question is whether their child plans to pursue graduate education. If a master's or doctorate is in the cards, the undergraduate institution matters less, and UT-Martin's relatively controlled debt becomes an advantage. But for students hoping to enter the workforce directly after graduation, the numbers suggest exploring other Tennessee programs that deliver stronger starting salaries without substantially higher debt loads.