U.S. median for this major: $56,830.
College Scorecard field of study; 258 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 47% 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 $31,638. College Scorecard.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Psychology (Research): pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 South Carolina colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 University of South Carolina-Columbia'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 | $12,634 | $52,178 | 3.0 years |
| $30–48k | $14,953 | $61,756 | 3.5 years |
| $48–75k | $19,859 | $82,018 | 4.7 years |
| $75–110k | $24,478 | $101,094 | 5.8 years |
| $110k+ | $28,125 | $116,156 | 6.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (69% 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 ($51,090) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $17,574 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
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 University of South Carolina-Columbia, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Acceptance rate: 60% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 79% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,177
- Full cost breakdown · all 77 majors · overview
Related majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Psychology$47,234
- Sociology$53,293
- Social Work$49,401
- Anthropology$42,758
- Neuroscience—
University of South Carolina-Columbia Psychology (Research) questions
How much do University of South Carolina-Columbia Psychology (Research) graduates earn?
Psychology (Research) graduates of University of South Carolina-Columbia earn a median $51,090 four years after graduating and $29,350 one year after. The U.S. median for Psychology (Research) graduates across 82 colleges is $56,830.
How much debt do University of South Carolina-Columbia Psychology (Research) graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Psychology (Research) graduates of University of South Carolina-Columbia is $24,250, about 47% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,000.
Where does University of South Carolina-Columbia rank for Psychology (Research) in South Carolina?
Of 1 South Carolina colleges reporting Psychology (Research) graduate earnings, University of South Carolina-Columbia 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 $50,610 in the Columbia, SC area and $59,550 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia the right fit for your family?
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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: “University of South Carolina-Columbia Psychology (Research): earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-south-carolina-columbia/majors/psychology-research (College Scorecard and BLS data).