Psychology at Columbia College

Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
33
Optimistic
33
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,685/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 4.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #518 of 926 Psychology, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $452K $456K $436K
Earnings Multiple 4.6x 4.7x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 33 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$97,304
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$96,204
1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,361
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,565
14% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,685/yr, edging above the $31,705 national average for Psychology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 4.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Psychology's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,361 represents roughly 8 months of the $35,685 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #518 of 926 Psychology programs, Columbia College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $40,565 are relatively flat compared to the $35,685 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Columbia College

serving 5,359 students in Columbia, MO. 44% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia College →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr
Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Psychology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Columbia College

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology at Columbia College?
A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Psychology careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $436,211 in decade earnings vs $452,202 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →