Psychology at University of Miami

University of Miami psychology graduates start slow but catch up—first-year earnings of $30,417 lag both national and Florida medians, but by year four they reach $47,513, a 56% jump that puts them ahead of typical outcomes. Among Florida's 44 psychology programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, meaning it outperforms many state options despite the rough initial period. For context, that's still well behind Florida's top programs like Trinity International ($39,980) or Saint Leo ($36,139), but competitive with larger state schools.

The real advantage here is the debt picture. At $18,500, graduates carry roughly $7,000 less than the national median and $6,000 less than Florida's typical psychology student. That 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio means the debt burden, while not trivial, won't dominate financial planning. The low debt comes despite Miami's elite status (19% admission rate, 1416 average SAT), suggesting decent institutional aid—though the 15% Pell Grant rate indicates this remains a campus serving primarily affluent students.

The tradeoff is clear: expect to struggle financially those first few years after graduation, possibly working entry-level positions while peers at top Florida programs earn 25-30% more. If your student plans graduate school or can weather lean early years, the combination of Miami's brand, strong earnings growth trajectory, and manageable debt makes this workable. If they need immediate earning power, other Florida options deliver better.