Psychology, General: American Public University System vs Bentley University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Bentley University
Waltham, MA
15.1x
$33,600 tuition
2.6x
$232,600 tuition
$507,488 10-yr earnings · Private for-profit
$596,645 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

American Public University System Bentley University
Earnings Multiple 15.1x 2.6x
4-Year Tuition $33,600 $232,600
Year 1 Earnings $39,655 $62,218
10-Year Earnings $507K $597K
Median Debt $27,550 $25,494
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 8.3 months 4.9 months
DegreeWorth Score 54/100 45/100

Both programs have high AI automation risk (49% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Psychology, General graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Psychology, General graduates.

American Public University System Bentley University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $232,600
10-Year Projected Earnings $507K $597K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.1x 2.6x

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Psychology, General (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

American Public University System Bentley University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $509K $507K $474K $606K $597K $538K
Earnings Multiple 15.1x 15.1x 14.1x 2.6x 2.6x 2.3x
DegreeWorth Score 55 54 50 46 45 39

For the full AI analysis of Psychology, General career paths, see the American Public University System or Bentley University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Psychology, General graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap
$199,000
American Public University System saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$22,563/yr
Bentley University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
15.1x / 2.6x
Earnings multiple (10yr earnings ÷ tuition)

Career Paths

Psychology, General graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Managers, all other $136,550 106,700 +4.5% 47%
Psychologists, all other $117,580 3,900 +4.3% 44%
Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840 400 +6.3% 49%
Clinical and counseling psychologists $95,830 4,800 +11.2% 37%
Psychology teachers, postsecondary $80,330 4,000 +3.6% 48%
Social science research assistants $58,040 5,200 +4.4% 67%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

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Psychology, General Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Psychology, General: American Public University System or Bentley University?
American Public University System scores 54/100 while Bentley University scores 45/100. American Public University System has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Psychology, General?
American Public University System has an in-state earnings multiple of 15.1x vs Bentley University's 2.6x. That means American Public University System grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $199,000 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do American Public University System and Bentley University compare on Psychology, General earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $39,655 at American Public University System vs $62,218 at Bentley University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $507,488 vs $596,645 — a difference of $89,157.
How much does Psychology, General cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $33,600 at American Public University System and $232,600 at Bentley University. Median debt at graduation is $27,550 vs $25,494. Both programs lead to the same Psychology, General career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.