Psychology at The University of the South

At nearly $46,000 four years out, Sewanee's psychology program delivers earnings that place graduates in the 80th percentile nationally—impressive for a field where many programs struggle to reach $35,000. More telling is the comparison within Tennessee: graduates here earn 58% more than the state median for psychology majors, competing directly with elite programs like Rhodes and Vanderbilt while maintaining substantially lower debt loads. The $17,148 median debt is less than half what psychology majors typically carry in Tennessee, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 that few liberal arts programs can match.

The 30% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates are finding career traction rather than hitting early ceilings. This trajectory matters particularly for psychology majors, many of whom pursue graduate education or licensed clinical work that requires time to build. Starting at $35,000 isn't flashy, but the combination of strong upward momentum and minimal debt preserves flexibility for those paths without burdening families who choose to stop at the bachelor's level.

For parents weighing Sewanee's $60,000+ sticker price, these outcomes justify the investment far better than most psychology programs. The low debt figures suggest the school's financial aid works effectively, and graduates are positioning themselves well above typical outcomes for the major. This is what good value looks like in the liberal arts.