Psychology at Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
40
Optimistic
39
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,104/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk
High (49% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI
8.9x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)
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 | $575K | $568K | $518K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.0x | 8.9x | 8.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.1x | 5.1x | 4.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 51% | 47% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 40 | 39 | 38 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,084
Out-of-state: $112,344 (5.1x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,232
75% growth from Year 1
About Illinois State University
With 89% of applicants admitted, Illinois State University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 18,414 in Normal, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State University →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Psychologists, all other
$117,580/yr
Industrial-organizational psychologists
$109,840/yr
Compare & Explore
Psychology at Other Schools
Other Majors at Illinois State University
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology at Illinois State University?
A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Psychology careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $517,819 in decade earnings vs $575,276 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →