Psychology at University of Massachusetts Global

UMass Global's psychology graduates are out-earning their peers by a significant margin—$40,726 in year one places this program in the top 20% statewide and the top 5% nationally. That's about $10,000 more than the typical California psychology grad and nearly $10,000 above the national median. The debt load of $26,703 is reasonable and slightly above state norms but well-managed given the stronger earnings, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.66—meaning graduates earn more in their first year than two-thirds of what they owe.

The 26% earnings growth to $51,379 by year four suggests graduates are building stable careers rather than hitting quick dead-ends, which is refreshingly uncommon in psychology bachelor's programs. Among California's 84 psychology programs, only The Chicago School and a handful of others match these outcomes. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these numbers, though individual experiences will vary.

For a psychology bachelor's degree—often criticized as leading to low-wage work—this program delivers unusually strong returns. If your child is set on psychology and planning to work in California, this program's track record suggests they'll have better-than-average prospects of supporting themselves after graduation without crushing debt.