Median Earnings (1yr)
$31,013
46th percentile
60th percentile in Florida
Median Debt
$19,432
24% below national median

Analysis

UCF's psychology program delivers solid value with significantly lower debt than most alternatives. While first-year earnings of $31,013 land near the national median, graduates here carry just $19,432 in debtβ€”well below both the national ($25,500) and Florida state averages ($24,562). This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, meaning students can realistically pay off their loans.

The program performs better within Florida than nationally, ranking in the 60th percentile among the state's 44 psychology programs. Earnings growth is encouraging, jumping 22% to nearly $38,000 by year four. However, it's worth noting that even top-performing Florida psychology programs like Trinity International ($39,980) and Saint Leo ($36,139) don't dramatically outpace UCF's four-year earnings trajectory.

For psychology majors, this program offers a practical advantage: you'll graduate with substantially less debt than peers at most schools while earning competitively within Florida's market. The lower debt burden provides crucial flexibility for graduate school or entry-level positions that many psychology careers require. Given UCF's reasonable selectivity and the robust sample size supporting these numbers, this represents a financially sensible choice for psychology studies in Florida.

Where University of Central Florida Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all psychology bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How University of Central Florida graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Central Florida$31,013$37,946+22%
University of Miami$30,417$47,513+56%
University of Florida-Online$26,003$46,888+80%
University of Florida$26,003$46,888+80%
Florida State University$30,140$44,481+48%

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Psychology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (44 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Central FloridaOrlando$6,368$31,013$37,946$19,4320.63
Trinity International University-FloridaMiami$14,180$39,980β€”$24,5620.61
Saint Leo UniversitySaint Leo$28,360$36,139$35,931$32,4610.90
Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityWest Palm Beach$37,990$35,403$39,584$25,2810.71
University of South FloridaTampa$6,410$32,438$40,991$21,2670.66
Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleFort Lauderdale$24,136$32,346$35,291$49,6881.54
National Medianβ€”$31,482β€”$25,5000.81

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with psychology graduates

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to organize the work setting to improve worker productivity.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychologists, All Other

All psychologists not listed separately.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Neuropsychologists

Apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to evaluate and diagnose disorders of higher cerebral functioning, often in research and medical settings. Study the human brain and the effect of physiological states on human cognition and behavior. May formulate and administer programs of treatment.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical Neuropsychologists

Assess and diagnose patients with neurobehavioral problems related to acquired or developmental disorders of the nervous system, such as neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, and learning disabilities. Recommend treatment after diagnosis, such as therapy, medication, or surgery. Assist with evaluation before and after neurosurgical procedures, such as deep brain stimulation.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Central Florida, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 962 graduates with reported earnings and 1153 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.