Grad school · Psychology

Research and experimental psychology graduate programs: earnings and debt by school

122 colleges award master's degrees in research and experimental psychology. Graduates of the typical program earned $55,164 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $45,433 in federal loans taken at the school.

Master's programs122

Graduates in 2023-242,095

Typical median debt$45,433

Typical earnings 1 yr after$55,164

Typical earnings 4 yrs after$59,911

Earnings to debt1.2x

Official field: Research and Experimental Psychology. 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	122	$55,164	$45,433
Doctoral	108	$78,998	$151,153

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.

Earnings above median debt Debt above first-year earnings

Master's programs in research and experimental psychology

Highest first-year earnings

Kansas State University$82,906

Fordham University$82,580

Texas A&M University-College Station$77,959

Montclair State University$61,297

CUNY Hunter College$60,186

Pace University$59,828

Ball State University$55,164

University of Pennsylvania$53,664

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
New York UniversityNew York, NY	390	$51,440	$82,490	$156,460
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI	32	n/a	$75,241	n/a
Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS	13	$82,906	$74,638	n/a
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX	17	n/a	$62,661	$30,000
Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA	14	n/a	$59,911	n/a
The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX	25	$47,238	$58,520	n/a
Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MN	54	$51,792	$53,809	$41,000
Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN	130	$50,559	$53,408	$34,577
William Carey UniversityHattiesburg, MS	2	n/a	$42,822	n/a
Fordham UniversityBronx, NY	42	$82,580	n/a	n/a
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX	30	$77,959	n/a	n/a
Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ	47	$61,297	n/a	$40,394
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NY	25	$60,186	n/a	$30,729
Pace UniversityNew York, NY	26	$59,828	n/a	n/a
Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN	31	$55,164	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	96	$53,664	n/a	$155,177
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	38	$51,705	n/a	$53,332
Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Bay Path UniversityLongmeadow, MA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA	95	n/a	n/a	$45,433
Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew York, NY	32	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	23	n/a	n/a	n/a
DePaul UniversityChicago, IL	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Duke UniversityDurham, NC	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida International UniversityMiami, FL	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Washington UniversityWashington, DC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Henderson State UniversityArkadelphia, AR	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD	65	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kent State University at KentKent, OH	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA	17	n/a	n/a	n/a
Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Murray State UniversityMurray, KY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM	18	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale, FL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	23	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA	22	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle, WA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
St. Francis CollegeBrooklyn, NY	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
St. Thomas UniversityMiami Gardens, FL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
State University of New York at New PaltzNew Paltz, NY	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Suffolk UniversityBoston, MA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas Woman's UniversityDenton, TX	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
The Chicago School at Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	21	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas Permian BasinOdessa, TX	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg, TX	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tufts UniversityMedford, MA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA	17	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-MercedMerced, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Central OklahomaEdmond, OK	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT	21	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DelawareNewark, DE	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL	20	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KentuckyLexington, KY	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-BostonBoston, MA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, MA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell, MA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	28	n/a	n/a	$52,928
University of RochesterRochester, NY	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ToledoToledo, OH	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of West AlabamaLivingston, AL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN	55	n/a	n/a	$59,126
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	19	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	18	n/a	n/a	n/a

Doctoral programs in research and experimental psychology

Highest first-year earnings

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$91,929

Pace University$91,120

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$81,836

University of California-Riverside$76,159

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$73,534

University of Nevada-Reno$72,382

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	17	n/a	$120,917	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	14	$76,159	$119,816	n/a
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI	30	$73,534	$101,916	n/a
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL	24	n/a	$99,311	n/a
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew York, NY	8	n/a	$99,149	n/a
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN	15	$91,929	n/a	n/a
Pace UniversityNew York, NY	16	$91,120	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA	20	$81,836	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV	10	$72,382	n/a	n/a
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
DePaul UniversityChicago, IL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Duke UniversityDurham, NC	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, FL	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida International UniversityMiami, FL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Fordham UniversityBronx, NY	18	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Washington UniversityWashington, DC	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Idaho State UniversityPocatello, ID	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	18	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kent State University at KentKent, OH	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, MD	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
New York UniversityNew York, NY	21	n/a	n/a	n/a
North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo, ND	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Suffolk UniversityBoston, MA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	18	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
The Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
The New SchoolNew York, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tufts UniversityMedford, MA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at AlbanyAlbany, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Akron Main CampusAkron, OH	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArizonaTucson, AZ	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA	18	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-MercedMerced, CA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA	16	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT	14	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DelawareNewark, DE	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DenverDenver, CO	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of HoustonHouston, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IdahoMoscow, ID	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IowaIowa City, IA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KentuckyLexington, KY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-BostonBoston, MA	18	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	29	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North TexasDenton, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of RochesterRochester, NY	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ToledoToledo, OH	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MN	16	n/a	n/a	$151,153
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	8	n/a	n/a	n/a

Frequently asked questions

How much do research and experimental psychology graduates earn?

Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $55,164 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.

How much debt do research and experimental psychology graduate students take on?

The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $45,433 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.

Undergraduate: Research and experimental psychology 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.