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Psychology at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,121/yr (17% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #105 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 25%

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	$526K	$523K	$485K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.2x	10.1x	9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.9x	3.9x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,584

Out-of-state: $135,004 (3.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$81,328

-58% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,000

6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,931

40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,121/yr, edging above the $31,705 national average for Psychology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,000 debt-to-$37,121 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #105 out of 926 programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Psychology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $37,121 to $51,931 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins has a 90% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 25,148 students enrolled in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Psychology program score?

This program scores 44/100 — 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.

Why does Colorado State University-Fort Collins rank so high for Psychology?

The #105 ranking out of 926 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →