Psychology at The University of Tennessee Southern

A psychology degree from UT Southern graduates students with about $20,000 in debt and $31,000 in first-year earnings—numbers that look reasonable until you examine where they stand. While the debt load is higher than most Tennessee psychology programs (87th percentile nationally), this program actually outperforms the state median by about $1,900 annually, placing it in the 60th percentile among Tennessee schools. That's a meaningful distinction in a state where psychology bachelor's recipients typically start around $29,000.

The real story here is the modest debt burden relative to earnings. With a debt-to-income ratio of 0.64, graduates can realistically manage their loans even on entry-level psychology salaries. This compares favorably to programs like Rhodes or Vanderbilt that deliver higher earnings but often come with substantially steeper price tags. For Tennessee families prioritizing affordability while staying competitive with in-state peers, this balance makes practical sense.

The critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than usual. If your student is committed to psychology and planning to pursue graduate education (as many psychology majors must for career advancement), keeping undergraduate debt under $20,000 while attending a local institution could be exactly the right strategy.