Psychology at Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
38
Optimistic
38
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,150/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #314 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 $502K $502K $470K
Earnings Multiple 9.9x 9.9x 9.2x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 38 36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$50,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,636
-2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,375
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,360
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $33,150/yr, roughly in line with the $31,705 national median for Psychology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.9x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 $21,375 represents roughly 8 months of the $33,150 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #314 of 926 Psychology programs, Northern Illinois University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $33,150 to $47,360 over five years — a 43% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 11,277 in Dekalb, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern 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 Northern Illinois University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology at Northern Illinois University?
A score of 38/100 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 $469,523 in decade earnings vs $502,441 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →