Grinnell College Psychology (Research): earnings, debt & careers

Psychology (Research) graduates of Grinnell College earn a median $57,752 four years after graduating ($28,507 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $17,702. That is $922 above the U.S. median for Psychology (Research) graduates ($56,830 across 82 colleges), and ranks 1st of 1 Iowa colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$57,752

U.S. median for this major: $56,830.

College Scorecard field of study; 23 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution

Earnings, 1 year after
$28,507

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$17,702

About 31% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $21,000.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$17,648 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $83,440. College Scorecard.

Grinnell College Psychology (Research): pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

Grinnell College graduates$57,752

Fewer than 3 Iowa colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.

U.S. median (82 colleges)$56,830 (+$922)

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 Grinnell College's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$9,970$41,5752.0 years
$30–48k$7,789$32,4801.5 years
$48–75k$9,669$40,3201.9 years
$75–110k$19,348$80,6813.8 years
$110k+$37,725$157,3137.5 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (74% 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 ($57,752) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $21,091 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.

Careers for Psychology (Research) graduates

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Iowa$52,250
U.S.$59,550

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Social Science Research Assistants

Iowa$40,940
U.S.$61,990

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 Grinnell College, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About Grinnell College

Related majors at Grinnell College

  • Psychology—
  • Sociology—
  • Psychology, Other—
  • Anthropology—

Grinnell College Psychology (Research) questions

How much do Grinnell College Psychology (Research) graduates earn?

Psychology (Research) graduates of Grinnell College earn a median $57,752 four years after graduating and $28,507 one year after. The U.S. median for Psychology (Research) graduates across 82 colleges is $56,830.

How much debt do Grinnell College Psychology (Research) graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Psychology (Research) graduates of Grinnell College is $17,702, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,000.

Where does Grinnell College rank for Psychology (Research) in Iowa?

Of 1 Iowa colleges reporting Psychology (Research) graduate earnings, Grinnell College ranks 1st, the highest.

What jobs do Psychology (Research) graduates get?

A common career is child, family, and school social workers, with a median wage of $52,250 in Iowa 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
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Cite this: “Grinnell College Psychology (Research): earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/grinnell-college/majors/psychology-research (College Scorecard and BLS data).