U.S. median for this major: $49,968.
College Scorecard field of study; 46 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 38% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,490.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $76,058. College Scorecard.
American University Psychology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Psychology nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses American University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,233 | $95,023 | 4.0 years |
| $30–48k | $20,444 | $83,616 | 3.5 years |
| $48–75k | $26,035 | $106,483 | 4.4 years |
| $75–110k | $30,063 | $122,958 | 5.1 years |
| $110k+ | $53,673 | $219,523 | 9.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (72% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Psychology graduates 4 years after graduating ($62,240) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in DC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $24,056 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Psychology at District of Columbia colleges
Every District of Columbia college we cover that reports Psychology graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University | $99,007 | $17,500 | $40,815 | 95% |
| 2 | George Washington University | $79,187 | — | $36,586 | 84% |
| 3 | American University | $62,240 | $23,799 | $41,943 | 75% |
| 4 | Howard University | $59,069 | $25,000 | $50,539 | 70% |
| 5 | Trinity Washington University | $53,543 | $32,866 | $9,302 | 49% |
| 6 | The Catholic University of America | $52,846 | $26,000 | $29,561 | 79% |
2 more District of Columbia colleges offer Psychology but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Psychology graduates
Social Science Research Assistants
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at American University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About American University
- Acceptance rate: 62% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $77,370
- Full cost breakdown · all 44 majors · overview
Related majors at American University
- Sociology—
American University Psychology questions
How much do American University Psychology graduates earn?
Psychology graduates of American University earn a median $62,240 four years after graduating and $25,773 one year after. The U.S. median for Psychology graduates across 998 colleges is $49,968.
How much debt do American University Psychology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Psychology graduates of American University is $23,799, about 38% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,490.
Is American University a good school for Psychology in District of Columbia?
On pay, Psychology graduates of American University earn $62,240 four years out, $1,586 above the median for the same major across 6 District of Columbia colleges ($60,654) and $12,272 above the U.S. median ($49,968). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does American University rank for Psychology in District of Columbia?
Of 6 District of Columbia colleges reporting Psychology graduate earnings, American University ranks 3rd. The highest is Georgetown University at $99,007.
What jobs do Psychology graduates get?
A common career is social science research assistants, with a median wage of $65,330 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area and $61,990 nationally.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “American University Psychology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/american-university/majors/psychology (College Scorecard and BLS data).