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Psychology at St. Mary's University

San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,175/yr (-11% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 3.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #768 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	$564K	$558K	$510K
Earnings Multiple	3.9x	3.8x	3.5x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	27	27	26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$144,968

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$85,408

41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

11.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,812

87% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,175 track close to the $31,705 national median for Psychology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 3.8x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

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

The $26,000 debt-to-$28,175 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #768 out of 926 programs, St. Mary's University's financial outcomes for Psychology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $28,175 to $52,812 over five years (87% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About St. Mary's University

St. Mary's University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,911 students in San Antonio, TX. 42% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. The average net cost of $85,408 over four years represents a 41% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's University

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

How does St. Mary's University's Psychology program score?

This program scores 27/100 — 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 →