Psychology at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

UW-Eau Claire's psychology program lands graduates squarely in the middle of Wisconsin's pack—60th percentile statewide—but this actually tells a positive story when you look closer at the numbers. That $38,259 starting salary beats the national psychology median by over $6,700, placing graduates in the 95th percentile nationally. While some Wisconsin schools push graduates above $40,000 in year one, Eau Claire's lower debt load ($22,500 versus $26,000 state median) creates a significantly better financial position than most peers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 means manageable monthly payments even on a modest psychology salary.

The 12% earnings growth to $42,810 by year four shows steady career progression, and with a 76% admission rate, this program offers accessibility that elite psychology programs don't. Psychology degrees rarely lead to high initial salaries regardless of where you study, so the key metric is whether debt remains reasonable—and here it does. For a student committed to psychology who wants a solid public university experience without crushing loans, this represents one of the stronger value propositions in the state. The modest debt load preserves flexibility for graduate school, which many psychology careers ultimately require.