Location: Medford, MA•In-State Tuition: $67,844•Admission Rate: 10%•Avg SAT: 1513
Median Earnings (1yr)
$35,806
56th percentile
40th percentile in Massachusetts
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from MA median (5 programs)
Sample: 17 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Tufts graduates this Bachelor's program with estimated debt around $27,000, but first-year earnings of $35,806 land below the Massachusetts median of nearly $40,000 for psychology programs. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75—manageable on paper, but the earnings lag is puzzling given Tufts' selectivity (10% admission rate, 1513 average SAT). Graduates from less selective Massachusetts schools like Emmanuel College and Boston College are earning $5,000-$6,000 more in year one.

The challenge here is that bachelor's-level psychology often serves as a stepping stone rather than a terminal degree. Many graduates pursue graduate school for licensure in counseling or clinical psychology, which means the debt compounds. If your child plans to stop at the bachelor's level, these earnings—while nationally average—suggest limited immediate financial payoff for a Tufts education. Similar programs across Massachusetts consistently outperform these figures.

The lack of reported data (necessitating these estimates) also means fewer graduates are entering the workforce directly, likely indicating most continue their education. If graduate school is the plan, factor in several more years of loans and delayed earnings. If not, ask hard questions about why Tufts graduates in this field aren't commanding the premium that the university's selectivity would suggest.

Where Tufts University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all clinical, counseling and applied psychology bachelors's programs nationally

Tufts University (estimated ±10%)Other clinical, counseling and applied psychology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Tufts University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Tufts University earns $36k — 56th percentile among clinical, counseling and applied psychology bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (9 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Tufts UniversityMedford$67,844$35,806—$27,000*—
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill$67,680$42,384$58,439$17,361*0.41
Emmanuel CollegeBoston$46,686$41,522$53,449$27,000*0.65
Lesley UniversityCambridge$32,780$38,404$43,650$26,000*0.68
National Median—$34,506—$27,000*0.78
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with clinical, counseling and applied psychology graduates

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Management Analysts

Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

$101,190/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to organize the work setting to improve worker productivity.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

School Psychologists

Diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school. May address student learning and behavioral problems and counsel students or families. May design and implement performance plans, and evaluate performance. May consult with other school-based personnel.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychologists, All Other

All psychologists not listed separately.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Neuropsychologists

Apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to evaluate and diagnose disorders of higher cerebral functioning, often in research and medical settings. Study the human brain and the effect of physiological states on human cognition and behavior. May formulate and administer programs of treatment.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical Neuropsychologists

Assess and diagnose patients with neurobehavioral problems related to acquired or developmental disorders of the nervous system, such as neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, and learning disabilities. Recommend treatment after diagnosis, such as therapy, medication, or surgery. Assist with evaluation before and after neurosurgical procedures, such as deep brain stimulation.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Human Resources Specialists

Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

$72,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Specialists

Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

$65,850/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Tufts University, approximately 12% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 17 graduates with reported earnings and 15 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.