Research and Experimental Psychology at Union College

Union College's psychology program graduates earn $30,061 a year after completion—roughly $8,500 below New York's state median and in just the 25th percentile among Empire State programs. For context, that's about where you'd expect earnings from a community college program, not a selective liberal arts college where average SAT scores hit 1410. The debt load of $25,062 isn't catastrophic, but it's higher than both state and national medians for this major, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that means graduates owe nearly 10 months of their first-year salary.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) is the critical caveat here. These numbers could shift dramatically with just a few different career outcomes. However, the gap between Union's results and comparable institutions is stark—Hamilton College graduates in the same program earn $39,880, while Colgate's earn nearly $42,000. Even accounting for statistical noise, Union appears to trail its peer schools significantly.

For parents weighing a Union College acceptance, the psychology program looks like a weak investment unless your child has specific graduate school plans that might eventually boost these figures. The selective admissions and strong academic profile suggest the college attracts talented students; the question is whether this particular program positions them for success.