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Psychology at University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,669/yr (-10% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 9.8x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #471 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	$560K	$554K	$508K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.9x	9.8x	9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.1x	3.1x	2.8x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	36	35	35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$56,668

Out-of-state: $179,776 (3.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$50,976

10% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,500

6.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,632

84% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $28,669/yr, Psychology graduates from University of California-Merced land near the $31,705 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 9.8x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $16,500 debt-to-$28,669 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #471 out of 926 programs, University of California-Merced's financial outcomes for Psychology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $28,669 to $52,632 over five years (84% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Merced

A 39% acceptance rate puts University of California-Merced in competitive admissions territory, with a mid-sized student body of 8,372 in Merced, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 59% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Merced →

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 University of California-Merced

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 University of California-Merced's Psychology program score?

This program scores 35/100 — 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 →