Psychology at University of Arkansas at Little Rock

UALR's psychology program outpaces most state competitors while keeping debt manageable, landing in the 60th percentile among Arkansas psychology programs. Graduates earn $34,282 four years out—nearly $5,000 more than the state median and slightly above the national average. Only John Brown University posts notably higher numbers among Arkansas schools, though at $35,294 it's just a thousand dollars ahead. The debt load of $28,646 sits below the threshold where monthly payments typically become problematic, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 that beats most national benchmarks.

The 5% earnings growth from year one to year four is modest, which reflects the reality of psychology bachelor's degrees generally—meaningful salary increases often require graduate credentials. Still, starting at $32,522 beats what half of Arkansas psychology grads earn, and the program serves a substantial population of first-generation students (41% receive Pell grants) without saddling them with excessive debt.

For an Arkansas family considering in-state options, this program represents solid middle ground. Your child won't graduate among the highest earners, but they'll avoid the debt traps that plague some programs while earning more than most psychology graduates across the state. If graduate school is the plan, the reasonable debt load leaves room for additional student loans later.