Research and Experimental Psychology programs
CIP 4227 · Psychology · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
92 institutions report graduate earnings for Research and Experimental Psychology programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $59,912 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38× and 75% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 10 of the 102 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Doctoral | $120,917 n=28 | 90% 1yr | — | — | Above +92% | — |
| 2 | University of California-RiversideCA · Doctoral | $119,816 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +59% | — |
| 3 | University of California-DavisCA · Doctoral | $106,855 n=19 | — | — | — | Above +42% | — |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Doctoral | $101,916 n=30 | 91% 5yr | — | — | Above +62% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Dartmouth CollegeNH · Bachelor's | $99,344 n=17 | 68% 1yr | $18,194 | 0.18× | Above +124% | — |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Doctoral | $99,311 n=20 | — | — | — | Above +45% | — |
| 7 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNY · Doctoral | $99,149 n=17 | 100% 5yr | $61,016 | 0.61× | Above +40% | Clears 2/2 |
| 8 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · Bachelor's | $86,946 n=95 | 56% | $19,347 | 0.22× | Above +129% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · Bachelor's | $83,012 n=22 | — | $26,320 | 0.32× | Above +135% | — |
| 10 | New York UniversityNY · Master's | $82,490 n=119 | 97% 5yr | $124,403 | 1.51× | Above +16% | Below 1/2 |
| 11 | University of ConnecticutCT · Bachelor's | $80,873 n=24 | — | $23,199 | 0.29× | Above +92% | — |
| 12 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointCT · Bachelor's | $80,873 n=24 | — | $23,199 | 0.29× | Above +92% | — |
| 13 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusCT · Bachelor's | $80,873 n=24 | — | $23,199 | 0.29× | Above +92% | — |
| 14 | University of Connecticut-StamfordCT · Bachelor's | $80,873 n=24 | — | $23,199 | 0.29× | Above +92% | — |
| 15 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusCT · Bachelor's | $80,873 n=24 | — | $23,199 | 0.29× | Above +92% | — |
| 16 | Tufts UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $79,571 n=36 | 90% 1yr | $15,500 | 0.20× | Above +83% | — |
| 17 | Washington University in St LouisMO · Bachelor's | $75,261 n=21 | 61% 1yr | $15,285 | 0.20× | Above +110% | — |
| 18 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Master's | $75,241 n=27 | 90% 5yr | — | — | Above +20% | — |
| 19 | Kansas State UniversityKS · Master's | $74,638 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +27% | — |
| 20 | University of ChicagoIL · Bachelor's | $73,483 n=35 | 90% 5yr | $17,500 | 0.24× | Above +95% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | Teachers College at Columbia UniversityNY · Master's | $73,440 n=49 | 94% 5yr | $58,988 | 0.80× | Above +3% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | George Washington UniversityDC · Bachelor's | $72,325 n=38 | 58% 1yr | $25,000 | 0.35× | Above +100% | — |
| 23 | Harvard UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $70,167 n=25 | 91% 5yr | — | — | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Amherst CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $69,204 n=28 | 82% 1yr | $10,800 | 0.16× | Above +59% | — |
| 25 | Brandeis UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $67,838 n=54 | 66% 1yr | $26,787 | 0.40× | Above +56% | — |
| 26 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Bachelor's | $67,537 n=463 | 78% | $17,787 | 0.26× | Above +93% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Florida Institute of TechnologyFL · Bachelor's | $66,923 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +98% | — |
| 28 | University of California-Santa BarbaraCA · Bachelor's | $66,171 n=517 | 54% | $14,500 | 0.22× | Above +72% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | Northeastern UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $66,130 n=74 | 85% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.35× | Above +52% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMA · Bachelor's | $66,130 n=74 | 85% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.35× | Above +52% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Fort Hays State UniversityKS · Master's | $66,097 n=18 | — | $36,500 | 0.55× | Above +12% | — |
| 32 | Yale UniversityCT · Bachelor's | $65,752 n=16 | 84% 1yr | — | — | Above +56% | — |
| 33 | Barnard CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $65,644 n=27 | 70% 1yr | $17,875 | 0.27× | Above +73% | — |
| 34 | Vassar CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $65,095 n=36 | 53% 1yr | $19,000 | 0.29× | Above +71% | — |
| 35 | University of RochesterNY · Bachelor's | $65,000 n=28 | 100% 5yr | $21,000 | 0.32× | Above +71% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | University of California-BerkeleyCA · Bachelor's | $64,904 n=113 | 53% 1yr | $12,280 | 0.19× | Above +69% | — |
| 37 | University of DelawareDE · Bachelor's | $63,614 n=172 | 92% 5yr | $23,883 | 0.38× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 38 | Brown UniversityRI · Bachelor's | $63,415 n=27 | 60% 1yr | $15,110 | 0.24× | Above +51% | — |
| 39 | New York UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $63,315 n=184 | 60% 1yr | $20,276 | 0.32× | Above +66% | — |
| 40 | Princeton UniversityNJ · Bachelor's | $63,216 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +58% | — |
| 41 | University of California-San DiegoCA · Bachelor's | $63,130 n=58 | 36% 1yr | $14,814 | 0.23× | Above +64% | — |
| 42 | Texas State UniversityTX · Master's | $62,661 n=19 | — | $32,780 | 0.52× | Below -4% | — |
| 43 | University of California-DavisCA · Master's | $62,626 n=16 | — | — | — | Below -17% | — |
| 44 | University of OregonOR · Bachelor's | $62,255 n=39 | — | — | — | Above +70% | — |
| 45 | Texas Christian UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $61,190 n=17 | — | $21,500 | 0.35× | Above +71% | — |
| 46 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Bachelor's | $61,134 n=165 | 47% | $16,570 | 0.27× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 47 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Bachelor's | $60,168 n=384 | 56% 1yr | $19,385 | 0.32× | Above +60% | — |
| 48 | Emmanuel CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $60,022 n=36 | 71% 1yr | $25,489 | 0.42× | Above +38% | — |
| 49 | Rutgers University-CamdenNJ · Bachelor's | $59,913 n=25 | 100% | $26,250 | 0.44× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 50 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $59,913 n=25 | 100% | $26,250 | 0.44× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 51 | Rutgers University-NewarkNJ · Bachelor's | $59,913 n=25 | 100% | $26,250 | 0.44× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 52 | Duquesne UniversityPA · Master's | $59,911 n=20 | — | — | — | Below -7% | — |
| 53 | The University of Texas at DallasTX · Master's | $58,520 n=25 | 70% 1yr | $39,943 | 0.68× | Below -11% | Below 2/2 |
| 54 | Grinnell CollegeIA · Bachelor's | $57,752 n=23 | — | $17,702 | 0.31× | Above +50% | — |
| 55 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's | $57,718 n=182 | 58% 1yr | $15,379 | 0.27× | Above +35% | — |
| 56 | University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's | $57,378 n=653 | 62% | $12,866 | 0.22× | Above +49% | Clears 2/2 |
| 57 | St Olaf CollegeMN · Bachelor's | $56,282 n=21 | 60% 1yr | $25,000 | 0.44× | Above +41% | — |
| 58 | Florida Atlantic UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $56,012 n=44 | 78% 5yr | $17,695 | 0.32× | Above +66% | Clears 2/2 |
| 59 | Niagara UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $55,947 n=19 | — | $26,997 | 0.48× | Above +47% | — |
| 60 | Boston UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $55,066 n=34 | 86% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.49× | Above +27% | Clears 2/2 |
| 61 | Eastern Washington UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $54,974 n=73 | 78% 5yr | $19,134 | 0.35× | Above +29% | Clears 2/2 |
| 62 | Trinity Washington UniversityDC · Bachelor's | $54,934 n=79 | 88% 5yr | $37,011 | 0.67× | Above +52% | Clears 2/2 |
| 63 | Park UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $54,849 n=254 | 20% | $22,077 | 0.40× | Above +53% | Below 1/2 |
| 64 | Georgia College & State UniversityGA · Bachelor's | $54,441 n=90 | 52% | $22,675 | 0.42× | Above +54% | Clears 2/2 |
| 65 | University of California-IrvineCA · Bachelor's | $54,323 n=495 | 44% | $13,000 | 0.24× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 66 | Walden UniversityMN · Master's | $53,809 n=31 | 83% 1yr | $41,000 | 0.76× | Below -21% | — |
| 67 | The Chicago School at Los AngelesCA · Grad cert | $53,677 n=26 | — | $20,500 | 0.38× | Below -29% | — |
| 68 | Utica UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $53,457 n=42 | 88% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.43× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 69 | Capella UniversityMN · Master's | $53,408 n=167 | 71% | $43,258 | 0.81× | Below -22% | Below 2/2 |
| 70 | Kansas State UniversityKS · Bachelor's | $53,337 n=91 | 69% 1yr | $19,875 | 0.37× | Above +47% | — |
| 71 | Wellesley CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $52,538 n=29 | 67% 1yr | $11,782 | 0.22× | Above +21% | — |
| 72 | Purdue University-Main CampusIN · Bachelor's | $52,170 n=126 | 40% | $18,500 | 0.35× | Above +39% | Clears 2/2 |
| 73 | Colorado Christian UniversityCO · Bachelor's | $52,153 n=32 | 76% 5yr | $18,125 | 0.35× | Above +25% | Below 1/2 |
| 74 | Canisius UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $51,532 n=90 | 87% 5yr | $24,775 | 0.48× | Above +35% | Clears 2/2 |
| 75 | Smith CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $51,267 n=51 | 95% 5yr | $18,114 | 0.35× | Above +18% | Clears 2/2 |
| 76 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSC · Bachelor's | $51,090 n=258 | 67% | $21,500 | 0.42× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 77 | The University of Texas at DallasTX · Bachelor's | $50,248 n=168 | 40% | $17,250 | 0.34× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 78 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's | $50,098 n=89 | 76% | $19,428 | 0.39× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 79 | University of California-RiversideCA · Bachelor's | $49,947 n=364 | 38% 1yr | $17,746 | 0.35× | Above +30% | — |
| 80 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $49,872 n=59 | 86% 5yr | $24,436 | 0.49× | Above +39% | Clears 2/2 |
| 81 | Mount Saint Mary's UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $49,222 n=16 | — | $27,000 | 0.55× | Above +28% | — |
| 82 | Park UniversityMO · Associate | $49,186 n=35 | — | $14,587 | 0.30× | Above +38% | — |
| 83 | Metropolitan State University of DenverCO · Bachelor's | $48,655 n=63 | 100% | $20,511 | 0.42× | Above +17% | Clears 2/2 |
| 84 | Savannah State UniversityGA · Bachelor's | $48,594 n=24 | 67% 5yr | $31,031 | 0.64× | Above +38% | Below 1/2 |
| 85 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's | $48,348 n=73 | 75% | $25,375 | 0.53× | Above +28% | — |
| 86 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonPA · Bachelor's | $48,348 n=73 | 75% | $25,375 | 0.53× | Above +28% | Below 1/2 |
| 87 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA · Bachelor's | $48,348 n=73 | 75% | $25,375 | 0.53× | Above +28% | — |
| 88 | University of North GeorgiaGA · Bachelor's | $47,919 n=160 | 21% | $21,000 | 0.44× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 89 | Bay Path UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $47,544 n=18 | — | $26,447 | 0.56× | Above +9% | — |
| 90 | California State University-San BernardinoCA · Bachelor's | $47,408 n=51 | 85% 5yr | $18,125 | 0.38× | Above +23% | Clears 2/2 |
| 91 | University of Central MissouriMO · Bachelor's | $47,390 n=89 | 64% 1yr | $19,294 | 0.41× | Above +32% | — |
| 92 | Northeastern State UniversityOK · Bachelor's | $46,102 n=110 | 58% 1yr | $18,579 | 0.40× | Above +30% | — |
| 93 | University of North FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $45,521 n=274 | 51% 1yr | $16,200 | 0.36× | Above +35% | — |
| 94 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $45,300 n=73 | 80% 5yr | — | — | Above +20% | — |
| 95 | Murray State UniversityKY · Bachelor's | $44,800 n=53 | 75% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.46× | Above +29% | Clears 2/2 |
| 96 | Westminster UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $44,695 n=18 | — | $23,000 | 0.52× | Above +12% | — |
| 97 | Purdue University Fort WayneIN · Bachelor's | $44,533 n=32 | 62% 1yr | $17,488 | 0.39× | Above +19% | — |
| 98 | William Carey UniversityMS · Master's | $42,822 n=16 | 75% 5yr | $60,001 | 1.40× | Below -15% | Below 2/2 |
| 99 | Truman State UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $41,487 n=61 | 45% 1yr | $19,500 | 0.47× | Above +16% | — |
| 100 | Mount St. Mary's UniversityMD · Bachelor's | $40,480 n=28 | 72% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.53× | Below -4% | Below 1/2 |
| 101 | Metropolitan State UniversityMN · Bachelor's | $40,230 n=23 | — | — | — | Above +1% | Below 1/2 |
| 102 | University of North AlabamaAL · Bachelor's | $33,565 n=31 | — | $19,125 | 0.57× | Below -3% | — |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $80,873 | 6 |
| Michigan | $75,241 | 3 |
| Illinois | $73,483 | 3 |
| Massachusetts | $66,130 | 11 |
| Kansas | $66,097 | 3 |
| New York | $65,095 | 11 |
| California | $61,134 | 13 |
| New Jersey | $59,913 | 4 |
| Texas | $59,855 | 4 |
| Florida | $56,012 | 3 |
| Minnesota | $53,408 | 5 |
| Georgia | $51,518 | 4 |
| Missouri | $49,529 | 6 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,348 | 5 |
States with at least 3 reporting Research and Experimental Psychology programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Research and Experimental Psychology programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Research and Experimental Psychology programs in this dataset are Ohio State University-Main Campus ($120,917), University of California-Riverside ($119,816), University of California-Davis ($106,855). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Research and Experimental Psychology programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 10 of the 102 Research and Experimental Psychology programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.