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Psychology at Whitman College

Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
31
Optimistic
30
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,090/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 1.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #657 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 $434K $439K $424K
Earnings Multiple 1.8x 1.8x 1.7x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 30 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$245,968
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$142,024
42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$38,973
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,090/yr, Psychology graduates from Whitman College land near the $31,705 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

An earnings multiple of 1.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 2% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #657 out of 926 programs, Whitman College's financial outcomes for Psychology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Whitman College

Whitman College accepts 50% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,523 students in Walla Walla, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $142,024 — 42% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Whitman 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

Compare this program → View all 926 schools offering Psychology →

Psychology at Other Schools

Bentley University ($62,218) Georgetown University ($51,959) Bucknell University ($51,645) Gettysburg College ($50,040) Trinity College ($48,406) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($48,299) The University of Texas Permian Basin ($46,009) Charter Oak State College ($45,428)

Other Majors at Whitman College

Economics ($46,832) Biology, General ($28,538) Political Science and Government ($27,689) English Language and Literature, General ($25,574)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Psychology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Whitman College's Psychology program score?
This program scores 30/100 — 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 →