Psychology at The University of Texas Permian Basin

UT Permian Basin's psychology graduates are earning $46,000 right after graduation—about 50% more than both the national and Texas medians for this degree. Among the 72 Texas schools offering psychology programs, this places UTPB in the 80th percentile, outearning well-known private universities like Dallas Baptist and approaching the levels of SMU and Rice. The $21,731 in typical debt is also lower than what most Texas psychology students carry, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than half of what you'd see at many comparable programs.

The catch here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 recent graduates reported data, so these numbers could shift as more students enter the workforce. That said, the pattern is consistent: earnings grow modestly but steadily (9% over four years), and the initial advantage over other programs holds up. For an open-admission regional university serving a student body where more than a third receive Pell grants, these outcomes are genuinely impressive.

If your child is considering psychology and needs to work immediately after graduation, UTPB delivers unusually strong entry-level earnings without the debt burden that typically comes with this major. The Permian Basin's unique economy likely plays a role here, but that's only relevant if your child is willing to stay in West Texas for work.