Psychology Degree in Garden Grove, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Psychology degree analysis for Garden Grove, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$66K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$98K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.4 yrs
in Garden Grove
Cost of Living
150.3
index (100 = avg)
Psychology in Garden Grove, CA Overview
Garden Grove, California (pop. 172,646) has 7 colleges offering Psychology programs. The local cost of living index of 150.3 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,160/month. Psychology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Garden Grove is approximately $66,132.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$17,153/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,754/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
66%
Psychology Salary in Garden Grove (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Garden Grove's cost of living index of 150.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Psychology salary: $44,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Garden Grove adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Psychology ROI Calculator for Garden Grove
Estimate your return on investment for a Psychology degree using local Garden Grove tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Garden Grove avg aid: $9,754/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,612
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,527
vs HS diploma in Garden Grove
ROI Payback Period
9.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Garden Grove
$354,348
Lifetime earnings premium ($480,960) minus total education cost ($126,612)
Student Loan Payoff for Psychology in Garden Grove
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Garden Grove for Psychology
Garden Grove State University
public
$13,746/yr
$54,984 total
University of Garden Grove
public
$14,677/yr
$58,708 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Garden Grove Community College
$6,550/yr
Top Employers for Psychology in Garden Grove
Garden Grove offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Psychology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Garden Grove Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Psychology Job Titles
Psychology in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$62K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$62K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$57K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$50K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$52K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$49K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$51K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$58K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Garden Grove
International Relations
$75K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$72K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$75K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$75K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$75K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$75K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$75K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$66K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Psychology Degree in Garden Grove — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Psychology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Garden Grove.