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Psychology at Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,174/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 2.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #599 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	$619K	$608K	$547K
Earnings Multiple	2.8x	2.8x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	31	31	29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$217,240

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$107,580

50% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,791

9.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,843

86% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Gustavus Adolphus College's Psychology program produces graduates earning $33,174/yr — within striking distance of the $31,705 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 2.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,791 debt-to-$33,174 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #599 out of 926 programs, Gustavus Adolphus College's financial outcomes for Psychology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $33,174 to $61,843 over five years (86% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Gustavus Adolphus College

Gustavus Adolphus College's 62% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,930 students in Saint Peter, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $107,580 — 50% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Gustavus Adolphus 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 Gustavus Adolphus College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Gustavus Adolphus College's Psychology program score?

This program scores 31/100 — on the lower end for Psychology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Psychology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Psychology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

How affordable is Psychology at Gustavus Adolphus College after financial aid?

Sticker price is $217,240, but the average net cost is $107,580 — a 50% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.

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