Grad school ยท Interdisciplinary studies
Behavioral sciences graduate programs: earnings and debt by school
32 colleges award master's degrees in behavioral sciences. Graduates of the typical program earned $68,820 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $41,000 in federal loans taken at the school.
Official field: Behavioral Sciences. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.
| Degree level | Programs | Typical earnings 1 yr after | Typical median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's | 32 | $68,820 | $41,000 |
| Doctoral | 23 | $70,077 | n/a |
| Professional doctorate | 1 | $74,291 | $116,156 |
Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay
Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.
Master's programs in behavioral sciences
Highest first-year earnings
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO | 61 | $71,034 | $75,887 | $95,317 |
| University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA | 44 | $68,642 | $72,822 | $41,000 |
| University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA | 74 | $99,807 | n/a | $20,500 |
| Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA | 1 | $72,085 | n/a | $66,000 |
| Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ | 16 | $68,999 | n/a | n/a |
| Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT | 48 | $67,440 | n/a | $55,000 |
| Eastern Washington UniversityCheney, WA | 12 | $64,700 | n/a | $41,000 |
| University of KansasLawrence, KS | 25 | $55,257 | n/a | $32,757 |
| Baylor UniversityWaco, TX | 76 | n/a | n/a | $88,000 |
| Brown UniversityProvidence, RI | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Carroll UniversityWaukesha, WI | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado School of MinesGolden, CO | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Daemen UniversityAmherst, NY | 52 | n/a | n/a | $26,210 |
| Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA | 81 | n/a | n/a | $26,950 |
| Harding UniversitySearcy, AR | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY | 31 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Houston Christian UniversityHouston, TX | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pace UniversityNew York, NY | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Houston-Clear LakeHouston, TX | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of IowaIowa City, IA | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell, MA | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Doctoral programs in behavioral sciences
Highest first-year earnings
Professional doctorate programs in behavioral sciences
Highest first-year earnings
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO | 51 | $74,291 | n/a | $116,156 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do behavioral sciences graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $68,820 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.
How much debt do behavioral sciences graduate students take on?
The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $41,000 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.
Undergraduate: Behavioral sciences major
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.