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Psychology at Eckerd College

Saint Petersburg, FL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $25,930/yr (-18% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)

ROI 2.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #919 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	$482K	$483K	$456K
Earnings Multiple	2.4x	2.4x	2.3x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	21	20	20

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$201,496

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$132,044

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

12.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$41,947

62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $25,930 place Eckerd College below the $31,705 national median for Psychology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The financial case is thin at 2.4x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 against $25,930/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.0 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #919 of 926 Psychology programs, Eckerd College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $41,947 show a 62% jump from the $25,930 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Eckerd College

Eckerd College accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 1,984 students in Saint Petersburg, FL. After financial aid, the average student pays $132,044 over four years — 34% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Eckerd 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 Eckerd College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology at Eckerd College?

A score of 20/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Psychology at Eckerd College worth the student debt?

Median debt of $27,000 against $25,930/yr starting salary means roughly 1.0 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

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 $456,188 in decade earnings vs $482,329 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Psychology from Eckerd College?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →