Psychology at Montana State University

Bozeman, MT · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,928/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.7x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #286 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 50%

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 $508K $506K $473K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.7x 15.7x 14.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 4.0x 3.8x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 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)
$32,332
Out-of-state: $125,348 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$82,372
-155% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,477
8.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,443
61% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $28,928/yr, Psychology graduates from Montana State University land near the $31,705 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Psychology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Psychology's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,477 represents roughly 9 months of the $28,928 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #286 of 926 Psychology programs, Montana State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $46,443 show a 61% jump from the $28,928 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Montana State University

With 87% of applicants admitted, Montana State University prioritizes broad access, serving 14,472 students in Bozeman, MT.

See all programs and financial aid at Montana State University →

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

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology at Montana 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 $472,972 in decade earnings vs $507,641 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →