U.S. median for this major: $56,830.
College Scorecard field of study; 28 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 16% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $21,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $87,640. College Scorecard.
Amherst College Psychology (Research): 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 (Research) nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Amherst College'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 | $1,086 | $4,605 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $1,570 | $6,657 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $17,478 | $74,107 | 2.5 years |
| $75–110k | $23,639 | $100,229 | 3.4 years |
| $110k+ | $47,521 | $201,489 | 6.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (73% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Psychology (Research) graduates 4 years after graduating ($69,204) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $29,324 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 (Research) at Massachusetts colleges
Every Massachusetts college we cover that reports Psychology (Research) 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 | Tufts University | $79,571 | $15,875 | $39,998 | 94% |
| 2 | Harvard University | $70,167 | — | $19,066 | 98% |
| 3 | Amherst College | $69,204 | $10,800 | $23,367 | 94% |
| 4 | Brandeis University | $67,838 | $26,787 | $35,736 | 86% |
| 5 | Northeastern University | $66,130 | $26,000 | $30,915 | 91% |
| 6 | Northeastern University Professional Programs | $66,130 | $26,000 | — | — |
| 7 | Emmanuel College | $60,022 | $27,000 | $26,706 | 68% |
| 8 | Boston University | $55,066 | — | $24,402 | 89% |
| 9 | Wellesley College | $52,538 | $12,500 | $25,496 | 92% |
| 10 | Smith College | $51,267 | $19,000 | $27,579 | 89% |
| 11 | Bay Path University | $47,544 | $29,401 | $14,271 | 44% |
7 more Massachusetts colleges offer Psychology (Research) but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Psychology (Research) graduates
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
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 Amherst College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Amherst College
- Acceptance rate: 9% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 94% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $77,644
- Full cost breakdown · all 34 majors · overview
Related majors at Amherst College
- Sociology—
- Anthropology—
- Neuroscience—
Amherst College Psychology (Research) questions
How much do Amherst College Psychology (Research) graduates earn?
Psychology (Research) graduates of Amherst College earn a median $69,204 four years after graduating and $45,786 one year after. The U.S. median for Psychology (Research) graduates across 82 colleges is $56,830.
How much debt do Amherst College Psychology (Research) graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Psychology (Research) graduates of Amherst College is $10,800, about 16% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,000.
Is Amherst College a good school for Psychology (Research) in Massachusetts?
On pay, Psychology (Research) graduates of Amherst College earn $69,204 four years out, $3,074 above the median for the same major across 11 Massachusetts colleges ($66,130) and $12,374 above the U.S. median ($56,830). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Amherst College rank for Psychology (Research) in Massachusetts?
Of 11 Massachusetts colleges reporting Psychology (Research) graduate earnings, Amherst College ranks 3rd. The highest is Tufts University at $79,571.
What jobs do Psychology (Research) graduates get?
A common career is child, family, and school social workers, with a median wage of $56,660 in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA area and $59,550 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.
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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: “Amherst College Psychology (Research): earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/amherst-college/majors/psychology-research (College Scorecard and BLS data).