Psychology at University of California-Davis

UC Davis psychology graduates start surprisingly low—$31,345 in their first year puts them in just the 25th percentile both nationally and among California programs. For context, the typical California psychology graduate earns $39,500 initially, and UC San Diego psychology grads start at nearly $48,000. That's a significant gap for a UC campus.

The story improves dramatically with time. By year four, earnings jump 71% to nearly $54,000, suggesting these graduates are either pursuing additional credentials or finding their footing in competitive fields. The modest debt load of $14,745 helps here—it's below both state and national averages, and represents less than half of first-year earnings. That manageable debt means the slow start doesn't translate into years of financial strain.

This looks like a program where patience pays off, but parents should understand what they're buying: a UC education that doesn't immediately translate into UC-level earnings. If your student is committed to psychology and potentially grad school (which many UC Davis grads pursue), the combination of solid long-term trajectory and reasonable debt works. But if they need strong earnings right out of college, other UC psychology programs deliver that more reliably.