Psychology at Saint Mary's College

Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
28
Optimistic
27
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,213/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #751 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 $554K $548K $503K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.7x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 27 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$205,720
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$114,208
44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,733
10.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,646
67% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $32,213/yr, Psychology graduates from Saint Mary's College land near the $31,705 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,733 represents roughly 10 months of the $32,213 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #751 of 926 Psychology programs, Saint Mary's College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $53,646 show a 67% jump from the $32,213 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Saint Mary's College

With 81% of applicants admitted, Saint Mary's College prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 1,399 in Notre Dame, IN. The average net cost of $114,208 over four years represents a 44% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Saint Mary's 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 Saint Mary's 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 Saint Mary's College?
A score of 27/100 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 $503,396 in decade earnings vs $553,525 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →