Psychology at University of Northern Iowa

University of Northern Iowa's psychology program starts graduates at modest salaries but shows impressive upward momentum. The 34% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates are successfully transitioning into better-paying positions, pushing median earnings to $43,640—well above what typical psychology bachelor's holders earn nationally. The $22,500 in debt is lower than both state and national medians, which matters for a field where entry-level salaries hover in the low $30,000s.

The catch: this program ranks in just the 40th percentile among Iowa psychology programs, trailing schools like Upper Iowa and Waldorf by nearly $10,000 in early earnings. If your child plans to stay in Iowa immediately after graduation, they'll be starting behind many in-state peers. However, UNI's broader reputation and the strong earnings trajectory suggest graduates who stick with it can close that gap over time.

The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable for a psychology degree, and the robust sample size means these numbers reflect real outcomes, not a lucky cohort. For families seeking an affordable entry point into psychology with room for growth, this works—but understand your child will likely need graduate school or several years of career building to reach competitive salaries in this field.