College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges for Psychology
Jeb Bush may not have a lot of compliments for psychology majors, but the truth is that you can get a job as a psych major, and you can make money; you just have to be smart about where you choose to go to school.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: Harvard University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$954,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$311,000 | Graduation Rate:98% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$36,000 |
| Rank:2 | School Name: Stanford University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$893,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$314,000 | Graduation Rate:95% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$52,000 |
| Rank:3 | School Name: Yale University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$772,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$323,000 | Graduation Rate:98% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$19,700 |
| Rank:4 | School Name: Assumption College (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$663,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$246,000 | Graduation Rate:72% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$36,200 |
| Rank:5 | School Name: University of Pennsylvania (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$652,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$327,000 | Graduation Rate:96% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$50,000 |
| Rank:6 | School Name: Cornell University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$637,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$319,000 | Graduation Rate:95% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$33,200 |
| Rank:7 | School Name: Dartmouth College (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$626,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$323,000 | Graduation Rate:95% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$25,600 |
| Rank:8 | School Name: | 20 Year Net ROI:$619,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$117,000 | Graduation Rate:85% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$24,500 |
| Rank:9 | School Name: Duke University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$603,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$317,000 | Graduation Rate:97% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$25,400 |
| Rank:10 | School Name: University of California-Berkeley (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$602,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$165,000 | Graduation Rate:94% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$29,000 |
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Based on Payscale’s College ROI Report, psychology majors can get more out of their studies than helping people become the best versions of themselves, they can also get nice attractive returns from this do-good field of work. But not all psychology majors see a positive ROI for the money they spend on tuition. Use Payscale’s College ROI report to find out where psychology majors find success. (It’s important to note that this list does not include salary data for people who go on to get graduate degrees. This can make a huge difference in earning potential if you study psychology.)
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is often on our list of best value colleges for psychology majors. As an added bonus for being one of the best value colleges for psychology majors, “Michigan” also offers it students one of the best college towns in the nation, Ann Arbor; that’s probably good for their mental health.
Other top choices for psychology majors are UCLA, George Mason University, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Students who earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology often go on to find work as a research associate, a data analyst, or working with children or people in care facilities. To become a counselor or psychologist, you must go on to earn an advanced degree.
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