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Best Value Research and Experimental Psychology Colleges

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

Harvard University produces Research and Experimental Psychology graduates earning $57,318 annually while maintaining a net cost of just $16,816 for qualifying students. This creates an earnings-to-cost ratio that outperforms most programs nationwide. California State University-San Bernardino offers the lowest net price at $5,918, though graduates earn $26,739 on average. The field connects directly to federal research agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and tech firms developing user experience products across major metropolitan areas. Private institutions like Princeton and Amherst demonstrate strong outcomes with 97.1% and 93.4% graduation rates respectively, while their generous financial aid brings costs below many public alternatives. Public universities span a wide earnings range from $20,349 at UConn-Waterbury to $33,157 at UC Davis, reflecting regional job market differences and program focus areas. The 91% acceptance rate at Cal State San Bernardino contrasts sharply with Harvard's 3.2% rate, showing multiple pathways into the field.
50
Programs
$5,918 – $35,435
Net Price Range
$30,671
Avg. Program Earnings
70.0%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Research and Experimental Psychology Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $5,918 $26,739 $7,675 54.7% 91.1%
2 $16,816 $57,318 $59,076 97.3% 3.2%
3 $8,683 $28,381 $5,498 25.2%
4 $10,555 $33,993 $59,710 97.1% 5.7%
5 $8,001 $25,658 $4,879 64.3% 81.3%
6 $12,233 $37,980 $26,110 44.4% 97.0%
7 $9,121 $25,194 $9,708 59.5% 84.0%
8 $10,785 $28,236 $5,009 36.8% 69.6%
9 $18,246 $46,087 $67,280 93.4% 7.3%
10 $13,289 $31,839 $11,764 92.3% 17.1%
11 $12,840 $30,024 $14,237 86.0% 21.2%
12 $14,294 $33,119 $10,780 29.9% 97.9%
13 $8,896 $20,349 $17,462 59.5% 97.9%
14 $13,825 $30,899 $14,965 85.3% 25.9%
15 $15,288 $33,157 $15,247 85.1% 37.3%
16 $20,148 $42,682 $69,045 95.0% 4.0%
17 $15,529 $32,658 $16,400 30.0%
18 $13,725 $28,598 $11,583 42.4% 78.6%
19 $18,967 $39,015 $66,939 94.9% 5.4%
20 $14,832 $30,035 $17,228 93.2% 17.7%
21 $17,139 $33,859 $16,488 84.8% 74.9%
22 $13,091 $25,856 $8,353 47.2% 96.1%
23 $13,945 $27,343 $9,992 83.1% 52.7%
24 $14,824 $28,598 $10,181 57.5% 85.6%
25 $17,435 $32,332 $14,564 70.8% 84.7%
26 $19,181 $35,060 $9,780 38.4% 81.7%
27 $14,013 $24,921 $13,747 92.7% 8.6%
28 $11,504 $20,349 $17,462 56.7% 97.4%
29 $16,931 $29,064 $16,080 78.8% 73.8%
30 $18,803 $31,314 $17,079 66.4% 76.5%
31 $19,407 $31,314 $16,586 67.6% 73.9%
32 $18,809 $29,685 $8,998 61.6% 80.0%
33 $19,133 $30,119 $10,017 47.4% 74.6%
34 $13,339 $20,349 $17,452 65.4% 97.3%
35 $24,987 $37,748 $47,240 58.0% 79.6%
36 $27,143 $39,369 $65,997 95.9% 7.2%
37 $14,059 $20,349 $17,472 56.9% 92.2%
38 $18,322 $26,353 $32,720 70.7% 77.7%
39 $21,869 $30,984 $24,308 55.5% 80.9%
40 $26,996 $38,018 $65,168 90.0% 14.4%
41 $11,750 $15,817 $15,265 87.6% 23.7%
42 $23,519 $31,314 $17,239 85.0% 66.3%
43 $18,701 $24,615 $15,298 57.8% 84.6%
44 $35,435 $43,798 $67,844 93.3% 9.7%
45 $32,116 $38,018 $63,141 90.4% 6.8%
46 $17,485 $20,140 $13,304 50.8% 70.6%
47 $19,040 $21,508 $63,946 92.7% 6.7%
48 $30,248 $32,925 $64,348 84.5% 38.9%
49 $24,532 $26,421 $12,688 77.7% 64.1%
50 $22,762 $24,035 $47,240 67.4% 78.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains Harvard's high earnings despite Research and Experimental Psychology being an academic field?

Harvard psychology graduates earn $57,318 annually, reflecting the university's connections to research institutions, consulting firms, and graduate school pipelines. The program's emphasis on statistical methods and research design transfers well to data science roles. Many graduates continue to PhD programs at top research universities, leading to higher lifetime earnings potential.

How do public university costs compare for this major across different states?

In-state tuition ranges from $4,879 at Florida Atlantic University to $17,462 at UConn-Waterbury, a $12,583 difference. California schools like UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara charge around $15,000 in-state while producing graduates earning over $30,000. Net prices after aid show California State-San Bernardino at just $5,918 despite higher sticker prices elsewhere.

Is the low graduation rate at some schools a concern for psychology students?

Savannah State University shows a 25.2% graduation rate while University of North Georgia graduates 36.8% of students. These rates reflect broader institutional challenges rather than psychology-specific issues. Schools like UC Irvine maintain 86% graduation rates with similar net costs, suggesting institutional support makes a significant difference in completion.

Does geographic location affect earnings potential for psychology graduates?

West Coast programs show higher earnings, with UC schools producing graduates earning $30,000-$33,000 annually. Georgia Tech graduates earn $31,839 despite the school's engineering focus, reflecting Atlanta's research and healthcare sectors. Connecticut graduates earn just $20,349, though this may reflect the regional campus structure rather than the full university's outcomes.

Where do students find the best return on investment for this degree?

Princeton offers strong value with graduates earning $33,993 against a $10,555 net cost after aid. Harvard's $57,318 earnings justify the $16,816 net price for career advancement. Among public options, UC Davis provides strong returns with $33,157 earnings and manageable $12,866 debt loads for graduating students.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.