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Psychology at CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,706/yr (0% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 20.4x earnings multiple (9.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #19 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 5%

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	$611K	$601K	$542K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	20.7x	20.4x	18.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.0x	9.8x	8.8x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	50	49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$29,528

Out-of-state: $61,328 (9.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$9,784

67% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$11,386

4.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$60,193

90% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $31,706/yr, Psychology graduates from CUNY Hunter College land near the $31,705 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 20.4x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $11,386 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #19 out of 926 programs, CUNY Hunter College's Psychology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $31,706 to $60,193 over five years (90% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About CUNY Hunter College

CUNY Hunter College accepts 54% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, enrolling 16,642 students in New York, NY. With 55% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $9,784 over four years — 67% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY Hunter 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

Psychology at Other Schools

Other Majors at CUNY Hunter College

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 CUNY Hunter College's Psychology program score?

This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Psychology graduates.

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 CUNY Hunter College rank so high for Psychology?

The #19 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.

How affordable is Psychology at CUNY Hunter College after financial aid?

Sticker price is $29,528, but the average net cost is $9,784 — a 67% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.

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