Research and Experimental Psychology
Offered at 473 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 10 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 3 | — | — | — |
| Bachelor's | 208 | $39,658 | $60,698 | $20,500 |
| Master's | 122 | $57,316 | $65,497 | — |
| Doctoral | 112 | $76,159 | $110,756 | — |
| Graduate certificate | 18 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park University | MO | $36,950 | $47,710 | $30,149 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | MA | $54,924 | $120,527 | — |
| 2 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | GA | — | $92,914 | $19,500 |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | $57,188 | $91,219 | $31,117 |
| 4 | Brown University | RI | $49,920 | $87,208 | $9,988 |
| 5 | Brandeis University | MA | $45,374 | $81,272 | $17,785 |
| 6 | Tufts University | MA | $49,784 | $79,349 | $17,250 |
| 7 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $32,324 | $78,472 | $14,294 |
| 8 | University of Rochester | NY | $42,008 | $78,471 | $19,000 |
| 9 | Vanderbilt University | TN | — | $77,772 | — |
| 10 | University of Connecticut | CT | $39,952 | $74,159 | — |
| 11 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus | CT | $39,952 | $74,159 | — |
| 12 | University of Connecticut-Avery Point | CT | $39,952 | $74,159 | — |
| 13 | University of Connecticut-Stamford | CT | $39,952 | $74,159 | — |
| 14 | University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus | CT | $39,952 | $74,159 | — |
| 15 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $43,881 | $73,891 | $11,065 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alliant International University-San Diego | CA | — | $126,068 | — |
| 2 | New York University | NY | $51,440 | $90,802 | — |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | — | $89,053 | — |
| 4 | Kansas State University | KS | $82,906 | — | — |
| 5 | Fordham University | NY | $82,580 | — | — |
| 6 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $77,959 | — | — |
| 7 | Teachers College at Columbia University | NY | $59,468 | $72,277 | — |
| 8 | Ball State University | IN | $55,164 | $65,497 | — |
| 9 | The University of Texas at Dallas | TX | $47,238 | $63,124 | — |
| 10 | Montclair State University | NJ | $61,297 | — | — |
| 11 | Bay Path University | MA | — | $60,820 | — |
| 12 | CUNY Hunter College | NY | $60,186 | — | — |
| 13 | Pace University | NY | $59,828 | — | — |
| 14 | Capella University | MN | $50,559 | $57,756 | — |
| 15 | University of Pennsylvania | PA | $53,664 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $73,534 | $114,847 | — |
| 2 | University of California-Davis | CA | $69,843 | $111,644 | — |
| 3 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | — | $110,756 | — |
| 4 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center | NY | — | $109,386 | — |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | TN | $91,929 | — | — |
| 6 | Pace University | NY | $91,120 | — | — |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine | CA | — | $90,270 | — |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $81,836 | — | — |
| 9 | University of California-Riverside | CA | $76,159 | — | — |
| 10 | University of Nevada-Reno | NV | $72,382 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles | CA | $60,038 | $45,325 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do research and experimental psychology graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in research and experimental psychology reports median earnings of $39,658. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
