Psychology, General at Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
25 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
26
Optimistic
25
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,002/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #806 of 926 Psychology, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $587K $579K $526K
Earnings Multiple 2.3x 2.3x 2.1x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 25 24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$253,784
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$157,316
38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,764
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,024
84% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $31,002/yr, Psychology, General graduates from Occidental College land near the $31,705 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The financial case is thin at 2.3x — 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, General's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,764 represents roughly 8 months of the $31,002 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #806 of 926 Psychology, General programs, Occidental College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $57,024 show a 84% jump from the $31,002 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Occidental College

A 40% acceptance rate puts Occidental College in competitive admissions territory, with a smaller student body of 1,844 in Los Angeles, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $157,316 over four years — 38% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Occidental 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, General at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology, General at Occidental College?
A score of 25/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Psychology, General careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $525,605 in decade earnings vs $587,019 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →