Psychology at Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,637/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #240 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 $496K $496K $465K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.0x 10.0x 9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.5x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 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)
$49,532
Out-of-state: $90,904 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,200
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,251
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,637/yr, edging above the $31,705 national average for Psychology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

At 10.0x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $15,000 in median debt against $35,637 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #240 out of 926 programs, Northeastern Illinois University's Psychology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,637 to $47,251 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University has a 70% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 3,869 in Chicago, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 54% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern Illinois 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

Other Majors at Northeastern Illinois 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

How does Northeastern Illinois University's Psychology program score?
This program scores 40/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →