Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,218
Est. from NE median (8 programs)
Median Debt
$23,250
9% below national median

Analysis

Wayne State College's psychology bachelor's program comes with $23,250 in debtβ€”lower than both the Nebraska state median ($25,716) and the national median ($25,500) for psychology degrees. With estimated first-year earnings around $35,218 based on comparable Nebraska programs, graduates would face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66, meaning debt equals roughly eight months of that first year's salary. That's manageable territory, though parents should note these earnings figures come from peer programs across the state rather than Wayne State's specific outcomes.

The estimated earnings align closely with the Nebraska state median and exceed the national median for psychology bachelor's degrees ($31,482), which tracks with what several Nebraska schools report: Concordia leads at $39,883, while Doane's graduates start at $34,896. Psychology undergrad degrees rarely lead to high initial salaries since many graduates pursue entry-level social services, education, or human resources rolesβ€”the real earnings jump typically comes with graduate training.

The value proposition here hinges on keeping costs contained, which Wayne State appears to do relative to other options. For a student planning to work immediately after graduation or pursue graduate school later, entering the workforce with under $24,000 in debt provides more flexibility than the typical psychology graduate faces. Just recognize that these earnings estimates reflect the broader Nebraska market for psychology BAs, not verified outcomes from Wayne State specifically.

Where Wayne State College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all psychology bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Nebraska

Psychology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Nebraska (16 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Wayne State CollegeWayne$7,970$35,218*β€”$23,250β€”
Concordia University-NebraskaSeward$39,330$39,883*$37,301$27,0000.68
Bellevue UniversityBellevue$8,886$38,928*β€”$28,8330.74
University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha$8,370$36,094*$40,143$21,7830.60
Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln$41,658$35,540*$40,348$27,0000.76
Doane UniversityCrete$40,491$34,896*$36,610$27,0000.77
National Medianβ€”$31,482*β€”$25,5000.81
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with psychology graduates

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to organize the work setting to improve worker productivity.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychologists, All Other

All psychologists not listed separately.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Neuropsychologists

Apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to evaluate and diagnose disorders of higher cerebral functioning, often in research and medical settings. Study the human brain and the effect of physiological states on human cognition and behavior. May formulate and administer programs of treatment.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical Neuropsychologists

Assess and diagnose patients with neurobehavioral problems related to acquired or developmental disorders of the nervous system, such as neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, and learning disabilities. Recommend treatment after diagnosis, such as therapy, medication, or surgery. Assist with evaluation before and after neurosurgical procedures, such as deep brain stimulation.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Wayne State College, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 8 similar programs in NE. Actual outcomes may vary.