Research and Experimental Psychology at University of Maryland-College Park

Based on peer programs nationwide, this specialized psychology track produces first-year earnings around $34,769—notably lower than Maryland's typical $41,744 for research psychology degrees. That's a significant gap, especially given UMD's strong academic reputation (median SAT of 1463) and the fact that Johns Hopkins graduates in this field start at $49,035. The estimated debt of $20,500 translates to about seven months of gross income, which is manageable on paper but becomes tighter when you're actually living on $2,900 per month.

The real question is whether a research-focused psychology bachelor's serves as a terminal degree or a stepping stone to graduate school. Most research psychology careers require advanced degrees, which means these first-year earnings may not tell the full story—but they do matter if your child needs to work before continuing their education. Without actual outcomes data from UMD's specific program, you're comparing a prestigious flagship's estimated performance to what similar programs produce elsewhere, missing the institutional advantages that might justify the choice.

If graduate school is the plan, focus on whether UMD provides strong research opportunities and grad school placement rather than fixating on bachelor's-level earnings. If your child intends to work after graduation, understand they'll likely compete with general psychology majors for entry-level positions, not research roles, making that earnings gap to Maryland's median more concerning.