Psychology at Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Wheaton's psychology graduates earn $48,396 four years out—well above the national average but trailing most Massachusetts schools. Here's the nuance: while ranking in the 76th percentile nationally sounds impressive, that 40th percentile standing among Bay State programs tells a different story. Massachusetts has an unusually strong field of psychology programs, and Wheaton sits squarely in the middle of that competitive pack, earning roughly $12,000 less annually than graduates from nearby Holy Cross or Williams.

The financial picture itself is relatively clean. At $27,000 in median debt, graduates owe just slightly above the program's national median, and that debt represents only 78% of first-year earnings—a manageable burden. The 39% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests graduates are finding their footing in the job market, though they're starting from a modest $34,746 base.

For families paying private college tuition, the question becomes whether Wheaton's outcomes justify the premium over state universities that might deliver similar psychology graduate earnings at lower cost. The program works fine if your student is sold on Wheaton's campus culture and small-school environment. But if the decision hinges purely on career earnings potential in psychology, Massachusetts offers stronger options at both ends of the price spectrum.