U.S. median for this major: $49,968.
College Scorecard field of study; 196 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 54% 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 $25,182. College Scorecard.
OU 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 OU'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 | $4,422 | $19,987 | 1.7 years |
| $30–48k | $4,560 | $20,611 | 1.8 years |
| $48–75k | $6,711 | $30,334 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $11,874 | $53,670 | 4.6 years |
| $110k+ | $19,217 | $86,861 | 7.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (34% 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 ($45,141) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $11,730 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 | Michigan State University | $56,040 | $25,250 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 2 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | $55,486 | $27,000 | $32,811 | 48% |
| 3 | Kalamazoo College | $54,747 | $24,650 | $19,072 | 76% |
| 4 | Calvin University | $54,412 | $23,767 | $22,992 | 74% |
| 5 | Central Michigan University | $53,422 | $27,000 | $17,597 | 59% |
| 6 | Hope College | $52,980 | $24,656 | $27,182 | 80% |
| 7 | Wayne State University | $52,435 | $26,087 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 8 | Alma College | $52,280 | $26,423 | $20,694 | 63% |
| 9 | Grand Valley State University | $51,460 | $25,187 | $16,317 | 67% |
| 10 | Western Michigan University | $50,655 | $27,000 | $15,273 | 58% |
| 11 | Saginaw Valley State University | $50,066 | $26,447 | $10,775 | 48% |
| 12 | Ferris State University | $49,596 | $27,125 | $8,624 | 47% |
| 13 | Eastern Michigan University | $48,346 | $28,403 | $15,407 | 46% |
| 14 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | $48,052 | $27,977 | $9,492 | 58% |
| 15 | Cornerstone University | $47,933 | $37,854 | $20,301 | 62% |
| 16 | Rochester University | $46,344 | $29,687 | $21,456 | 44% |
| 17 | Baker College | $46,049 | $41,688 | $13,157 | 36% |
| 18 | Aquinas College | $45,698 | $27,000 | $16,626 | 65% |
| 19 | Oakland University | $45,141 | $24,510 | $9,120 | 58% |
| 20 | Siena Heights University | $43,672 | $27,475 | $17,124 | 39% |
| 21 | Northern Michigan University | $43,349 | $22,727 | $14,085 | 52% |
| 22 | University of Michigan-Flint | $42,255 | $29,500 | $7,007 | 40% |
| 23 | Spring Arbor University | $41,167 | $26,000 | $19,353 | 64% |
13 more Michigan 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 OU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About OU
- Acceptance rate: 88% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $58,612
- Full cost breakdown · all 74 majors · overview
Related majors at OU
- Sociology$47,873
- Social Work$55,754
OU Psychology questions
How much do OU Psychology graduates earn?
Psychology graduates of Oakland University earn a median $45,141 four years after graduating and $28,026 one year after. The U.S. median for Psychology graduates across 998 colleges is $49,968.
How much debt do OU Psychology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Psychology graduates of Oakland University is $24,510, about 54% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,490.
Is OU a good school for Psychology in Michigan?
On pay, Psychology graduates of Oakland University earn $45,141 four years out, $4,455 below the median for the same major across 23 Michigan colleges ($49,596) and $4,827 below the U.S. median ($49,968). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does OU rank for Psychology in Michigan?
Of 23 Michigan colleges reporting Psychology graduate earnings, Oakland University ranks 19th. The highest is Michigan State University at $56,040.
What jobs do Psychology graduates get?
A common career is social science research assistants, with a median wage of $62,670 in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 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: “Oakland University Psychology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/oakland-university/majors/psychology (College Scorecard and BLS data).