Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at Western Michigan University

Western Michigan's psychology program starts graduates at $28,007—roughly $6,500 below the national median for this degree and barely above Michigan's state median. While that ranks them near the bottom nationally (21st percentile), they're essentially middle-of-the-pack within Michigan (40th percentile), which tells you more about the state's psychology job market than this specific program. The bigger story is what happens next: earnings jump 69% to $47,306 by year four, vaulting graduates well past both state and national norms. That trajectory suggests graduates are successfully moving into roles that require experience—perhaps counseling positions, case management, or clinical support roles that take time to access.

The $27,000 debt load is reasonable and mirrors both state and national medians. With first-year earnings below $30,000, expect tight budgets initially—that near-1.0 debt ratio means the entire first year's salary barely covers what was borrowed. But by year four, the debt-to-earnings picture improves dramatically as salaries catch up.

This is a patience play. If your child plans to pursue graduate work in psychology (common for this field), those early wages won't matter as much. If they're entering the workforce immediately, they need realistic expectations about lean early years and possibly living at home. The four-year trajectory shows promise, but that first year will require financial cushion or significant family support.