Psychology at William Jessup University

William Jessup's psychology graduates start modestly at just under $32,000, but their earnings trajectory tells a more optimistic story than the first-year number suggests. By year four, median pay climbs to $43,088—a 35% increase that outpaces typical wage growth and suggests graduates are successfully leveraging their degrees. This lands them above the state median for psychology programs, ranking in the 60th percentile among California's 84 schools offering this major.

The $21,500 debt load sits right at California's median but well below the national average of $25,500. Combined with that strong earnings growth, the initial debt-to-income ratio of 0.67 becomes quite manageable within a few years. This is a program where patience pays off—graduates aren't commanding top-tier salaries immediately, but they're building momentum rather than plateauing. Still, it's worth noting you're looking at moderate sample size data, and the early earnings do trail the state's highest performers (like UMass Global at $40,726) by nearly $10,000.

For parents weighing this program, the key question is whether your child can navigate those lean first couple of years. If they're willing to work their way up rather than expecting immediate returns, the combination of below-average debt and steady earnings growth makes this a reasonable investment—just don't expect a financial windfall right out of the gate.