Research and Experimental Psychology at Villanova University

With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers come with real uncertainty, but they sketch a picture that deserves careful attention: Villanova's research psychology graduates start at $39,218, which beats the national median by 13% but trails Pennsylvania's median by $2,400. More telling, they're earning less than their peers at Penn State and Gettysburg—schools with notably different admission selectivity than Villanova's 25% acceptance rate and 1466 average SAT. The debt load of $26,250 is actually favorable compared to national peers, though it matches the Pennsylvania average exactly.

Here's what matters for your decision: this is an expensive, selective private university producing psychology research graduates whose early earnings sit in the middle of Pennsylvania's pack. The 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable—graduates would need about eight months of pre-tax earnings to cover their debt—but you're not seeing the earnings premium you might expect from Villanova's academic profile. Psychology research tracks often lead to graduate school, which could explain the modest starting salaries, but that means potentially taking on additional debt before seeing stronger earnings.

If your child is certain about pursuing psychology research and graduate school is the plan, Villanova's academic reputation may matter more than these first-year numbers. But if they're unsure or hoping to work after the bachelor's degree, these earnings suggest you should have honest conversations about whether Villanova's premium is worth it for this specific program.