Psychology Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of human behavior, mental processes, and emotional functioning.
Starting Salary
$44K
median
Mid-Career
$65K
salary
ROI Payback
6 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
4%
rate
Psychology Overview
Study of human behavior, mental processes, and emotional functioning.
Category
Social Sciences
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
65%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
35%
Lifetime Premium
$320K
Female Graduates
75%
Psychology Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$17,100
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$17,100
after scholarships
ROI Payback
2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$302,900
Lifetime earnings premium ($320,000) minus net degree cost ($17,100)
Psychology Salary Progression
Common Psychology Careers
Psychologist
Counselor
Research Associate
HR Specialist
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Psychology
#1
Stanford
#2
Harvard
#3
Yale
#4
University of Michigan
#5
UCLA
Related Majors
Psychology Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Psychology Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for psychology programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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