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Psychology · Psychology Rank #925 of 926

Psychologyat Naropa University

Graduates earn $17,708/yr in their first year — about 44.0% below the national Psychology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $457K; scenarios range from $437K to $453K depending on AI disruption.

Boulder, CO Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
18 AT RISK
19
Optimistic
17
Pessimistic
Earnings
$17,708
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$457K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Naropa University

Your financial outcomes for this General Psychology degree at Naropa are significantly lower than what you might expect from a typical four-year program. This often stems from the unique, contemplative focus of Naropa's curriculum. While deeply enriching personally, it may not directly align with the specific vocational training often sought by employers for immediate high-earning roles in fields like corporate HR or traditional clinical settings.

The listed high-paying psychologist careers almost universally require graduate-level education and licensure, which your bachelor's degree alone does not provide. Consequently, many graduates initially enter roles such as mental health technicians, case managers, or administrative support, especially in the competitive Boulder market, where starting salaries are modest. Consider this program as a foundational step for personal growth and further specialized study; if high initial earnings are your primary goal, you'll need to strategically plan for advanced degrees or pivot into fields that value the unique soft skills this program develops.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$437K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score17/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$457K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score18/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$453K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score19/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Naropa University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Psychology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Psychologists, all other
+4.3% 10-yr growth · 3,900 openings/yr
$117,580/yr
Moderate
3
Industrial-organizational psychologists
+6.3% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$109,840/yr
Moderate
4
Clinical and counseling psychologists
+11.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$95,830/yr
Moderate
5
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 4,000 openings/yr
$80,330/yr
Moderate
6
Social science research assistants
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 5,200 openings/yr
$58,040/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Psychology

How Naropa University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Bentley University
MA · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
1.7x
ROI
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
1.7x
ROI
Bucknell University
PA · Private nonprofit
41
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
1.4x
ROI
Gettysburg College
PA · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.6x
ROI
Trinity College
CT · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
0.8x
ROI

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Psychology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Psychology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Psychology at Naropa University

How does Naropa University's Psychology program score?

This program scores 18/100 — on the lower end for Psychology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Do Naropa University Psychology graduates earn enough to justify the loans?

The debt-to-income ratio of 1.4x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.

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 are Psychology earnings lower at Naropa University?

Lower starting pay at Naropa University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.