Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at University at Albany

Recent graduates from University at Albany's Clinical Psychology program earn around $26,000 in their first year—roughly $8,000 below the state median and $8,000 below the national benchmark for this degree. Among New York psychology programs, this lands in the bottom quarter for earnings. Meanwhile, debt levels at $22,400 sit right at the state median but notably below the national average, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0. The challenge isn't crushing debt—it's the unexpectedly low starting salaries.

The earnings gap is significant when you consider alternatives within SUNY and CUNY systems. Baruch's psychology graduates earn more than double ($57,000), while even smaller programs like Canton State outpace Albany by $10,000. This suggests the issue may be specific to Albany's program outcomes rather than inherent to psychology degrees in New York. With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, these modest starting salaries hit hardest for families counting on early financial stability.

For families considering this program, the core question is whether your student plans immediate graduate school (where these earnings are somewhat expected) or needs to work full-time after graduation. If it's the latter, you're looking at potentially difficult first years financially, even with manageable debt. The state comparison data suggests stronger psychology programs exist within New York's public university system that deliver better early-career outcomes.