Psychology at University of Puget Sound

University of Puget Sound's psychology program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—and that's the crucial data point here. While the $27,000 debt load is fairly typical, graduates earn $25,596 in their first year, roughly $8,000 below Washington's state median for psychology majors and $13,000 less than what Seattle Pacific graduates make. Among Washington's 18 psychology programs, this lands in the bottom quarter for earnings despite tuition costs that likely exceed state schools.

The numbers do improve substantially over time, with median earnings jumping to $47,457 by year four—an 85% increase that outpaces typical wage growth. This suggests graduates eventually find their footing, though they're starting from a significant deficit. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means this pattern is reasonably reliable, not based on just a handful of outcomes.

For a family paying private school tuition at an institution with a 76% acceptance rate, these results demand serious consideration. Your child would likely earn more with a psychology degree from University of Washington or Washington State—both state schools charging less. Unless Puget Sound offers something uniquely valuable for your student's specific goals (graduate school connections, research opportunities), the financial case is weak compared to in-state alternatives.