Best Research and Experimental Psychology Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
44
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$228,212
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$41,180
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of Rochester
Grad rate: 87.0% |
NY | +$168,190 | $68,347 | $82,600 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 | Northeastern University Professional Programs | MA | +$127,120 | $50,111 | N/A | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 | Palo Alto University | CA | +$123,220 | $48,161 | N/A | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of Chicago
Grad rate: 95.2% |
IL | +$50,431 | $63,074 | $86,856 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of Delaware
Grad rate: 79.2% |
DE | -$86,569 | $45,214 | $29,347 | $24,786 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Harvard University
Grad rate: 97.5% |
MA | -$119,708 | $52,583 | $82,842 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Murray State University
Grad rate: 59.0% |
KY | -$120,295 | $41,664 | $21,475 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Lesley University
Grad rate: 61.6% |
MA | -$136,224 | $45,034 | $49,226 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Loyola University New Orleans
Grad rate: 67.3% |
LA | -$137,368 | $47,499 | $61,837 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Northern Michigan University
Grad rate: 51.8% |
MI | -$141,244 | $40,179 | $26,206 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
University of California-Santa Barbara
Grad rate: 85.5% |
CA | -$153,394 | $42,698 | $36,776 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Trinity Washington University
Grad rate: 41.5% |
DC | -$165,935 | $43,509 | $35,061 | $41,386 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
University of California-Davis
Grad rate: 85.7% |
CA | -$176,873 | $41,662 | $38,067 | $13,219 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
University of California-Irvine
Grad rate: 86.3% |
CA | -$192,374 | $40,483 | $36,121 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Grad rate: 93.2% |
MI | -$192,635 | $40,300 | $33,345 | $18,708 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Utica University
Grad rate: 56.9% |
NY | -$196,420 | $41,303 | $36,845 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Northeastern University
Grad rate: 90.8% |
MA | -$198,292 | $50,111 | $81,353 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Purdue University-Main Campus
Grad rate: 83.1% |
IN | -$208,873 | $37,386 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Grad rate: 45.6% |
CO | -$221,851 | $37,058 | $23,369 | $21,878 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
The University of Texas at Dallas
Grad rate: 70.2% |
TX | -$237,165 | $37,100 | $28,210 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Canisius University
Grad rate: 68.3% |
NY | -$237,371 | $40,290 | $42,271 | $25,250 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Grad rate: 29.5% |
CO | -$242,385 | $36,244 | $22,825 | $26,641 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
University of North Georgia
Grad rate: 37.7% |
GA | -$245,719 | $34,862 | $18,062 | $22,749 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Grad rate: 84.6% |
MN | -$250,275 | $36,681 | $29,013 | $20,625 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Northwest Missouri State University
Grad rate: 55.6% |
MO | -$254,723 | $35,569 | $22,906 | $25,540 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
California State University-San Bernardino
Grad rate: 54.5% |
CA | -$269,832 | $33,021 | $16,910 | $16,750 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Rutgers University-Newark
Grad rate: 66.9% |
NJ | -$275,096 | $34,995 | $33,749 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Rutgers University-Camden
Grad rate: 65.7% |
NJ | -$275,348 | $34,995 | $33,812 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Grad rate: 84.7% |
NJ | -$281,028 | $34,995 | $35,232 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Georgia College & State University
Grad rate: 62.0% |
GA | -$296,499 | $34,385 | $27,781 | $24,500 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Metropolitan State University
Grad rate: 35.5% |
MN | -$299,094 | $34,172 | $26,057 | $28,375 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate: 95.1% |
NY | -$313,383 | $44,923 | $86,042 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Mount St. Mary's University
Grad rate: 61.0% |
MD | -$323,537 | $39,690 | $62,078 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Eastern Washington University
Grad rate: 48.4% |
WA | -$325,204 | $31,640 | $22,772 | $19,938 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Grad rate: 78.0% |
SC | -$325,937 | $33,908 | $32,840 | $24,250 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
University of South Carolina-Upstate
Grad rate: 42.8% |
SC | -$331,260 | $30,350 | $24,565 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Park University
Grad rate: 27.3% |
MO | -$342,156 | $31,255 | $23,714 | $24,000 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Grad rate: 92.6% |
CA | -$353,786 | $32,769 | $36,643 | $16,737 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Smith College
Grad rate: 89.1% |
MA | -$371,286 | $41,145 | $82,134 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Boston University
Grad rate: 89.5% |
MA | -$394,076 | $38,835 | $82,694 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Florida Atlantic University
Grad rate: 63.2% |
FL | -$432,434 | $25,830 | $21,054 | $18,384 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Savannah State University
Grad rate: 27.0% |
GA | -$446,457 | $25,372 | $17,185 | $33,450 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Colorado Christian University
Grad rate: 58.1% |
CO | -$447,599 | $30,910 | $50,206 | $18,500 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Eckerd College
Grad rate: 67.5% |
FL | -$490,607 | $32,408 | $66,936 | $22,980 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Research and Experimental Psychology Degrees by State
Browse Research and Experimental Psychology programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.