Psychology at University of Southern Mississippi

Southern Miss psychology graduates face a tough first year, earning just $28,130—well below the national median of $31,482. But here's what matters for Mississippi families: this program still outperforms 60% of psychology programs in the state, where the typical grad earns only $24,592. At the state's largest public universities, only Ole Miss produces notably higher earners at $30,336.

The $22,685 median debt is manageable compared to national norms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 that beats many liberal arts degrees. Earnings do climb 16% by year four to $32,661, essentially reaching the national median. However, that's still modest income for a four-year degree, and the low national ranking (23rd percentile) reflects psychology's broader challenge as an undergraduate major—it often requires graduate school for professional-level earnings.

For Mississippi residents considering psychology, Southern Miss represents a reasonable value if your child plans to work in-state or pursue graduate school. The relatively open admissions (99%) and high Pell Grant participation (47%) suggest this serves students who might not have many alternatives. Just ensure your child understands that a bachelor's in psychology typically requires either graduate education or pivoting to adjacent fields like human resources or social services to reach middle-class earnings.