Psychology at Winona State University

Winona State's psychology program significantly outperforms the national market—landing in the 94th percentile for earnings—but sits squarely in the middle of Minnesota's competitive psychology landscape. First-year graduates earn $37,673, about $6,200 more than the typical psychology grad nationally, though several Minnesota schools push closer to $41,000. The debt load of $24,875 is reasonable, translating to a manageable 0.66 ratio against first-year income, and graduates see healthy 20% earnings growth by year four.

The 60th percentile ranking within Minnesota tells the real story here. You're getting solid results at a regional public university with a 69% admission rate, but not top-tier outcomes. The program delivers better value than three-quarters of psychology programs nationwide, which matters if your student is considering out-of-state alternatives. Within Minnesota, though, schools like College of Saint Benedict and Metro State post notably stronger early earnings.

For families prioritizing affordability and steady career progression over maximizing first-year salary, this works. The debt is manageable, the earnings trajectory is positive, and outcomes substantially exceed national norms. Just understand you're paying for middle-of-the-pack results in a state with particularly strong psychology programs overall.