Psychology at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

UC Denver's psychology program graduates are catching employers' attention—first-year earnings of $36,482 place them in the 87th percentile nationally, well above the typical $31,482 for psychology bachelor's degrees. However, within Colorado's competitive landscape, the program sits at the 60th percentile, trailing schools like Adams State and Metropolitan State by about $1,000-1,500 annually. The $28,000 median debt is higher than Colorado's typical $23,869 for psychology programs, though it remains modest by national standards.

The program's real strength emerges in the growth trajectory: earnings jump 23% to nearly $45,000 by year four, suggesting graduates are successfully transitioning from entry-level positions into more specialized roles. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 means most graduates can reasonably manage their loans, paying off roughly three-quarters of their debt equivalent from a single year's income.

For families weighing options, this comes down to whether the university's Denver location and career network justify the premium over in-state alternatives that deliver similar or slightly better starting salaries with less debt. If your student plans to stay in Colorado and values immediate earning power, Metropolitan State or Adams State warrant consideration. If UC Denver's urban setting and research opportunities align with career goals in clinical or organizational psychology, the modest debt load makes this a manageable choice, though not the state's most efficient value.