Psychology at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
38
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,164/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.0x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #324 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 50%

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 $586K $578K $525K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.2x 9.0x 8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 3.3x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 38 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$63,952
Out-of-state: $173,488 (3.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$83,004
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,630
9.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,392
87% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,164/yr, roughly in line with the $31,705 national median for Psychology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 9.0x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,630 debt-to-$30,164 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #324 out of 926 programs, Michigan State University's Psychology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $30,164 to $56,392 over five years (87% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Michigan State University

Michigan State University accepts 84% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 40,243 in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan State University →

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 Michigan State University

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 Michigan State University's Psychology program score?
This program scores 38/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →