Psychology at University at Buffalo

University at Buffalo's psychology program stands out for its exceptional earnings growth, with graduates seeing a 44% salary increase from $31,351 to $45,154 between their first and fourth years post-graduation. This trajectory significantly outpaces typical psychology programs and suggests strong alumni networks or career services that help graduates advance into better-paying positions over time.

The financial picture is reasonable despite below-average starting salaries. With $20,830 in median debt—notably lower than both the national ($25,500) and New York state ($25,000) averages for psychology programs—students graduate with manageable financial obligations. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 means most graduates can realistically handle their loan payments, even with the modest starting salary that ranks in the 40th percentile among New York psychology programs.

While UB's psychology graduates don't command top starting salaries compared to elite programs like CUNY's Graduate School ($48,299), the combination of lower debt and strong earnings growth creates a solid value proposition. The robust sample size gives confidence in these outcomes, and for families seeking an affordable path to a psychology degree with genuine career advancement potential, this program delivers practical value over marketing prestige.