Psychology at Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
26
Optimistic
25
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,757/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk
High (49% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI
2.7x earnings multiple
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 | $551K | $546K | $501K |
| Earnings Multiple | 2.7x | 2.7x | 2.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 51% | 47% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 26 | 25 | 25 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$203,856
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,969
8.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,603
71% growth from Year 1
About Pacific Lutheran University
A 81% acceptance rate means Pacific Lutheran University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 2,350 students in Tacoma, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $85,480 — 58% less than the list price.
See all programs and financial aid at Pacific Lutheran 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 Pacific Lutheran 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 Pacific Lutheran University?
A score of 25/100 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 $501,463 in decade earnings vs $550,609 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Pacific Lutheran University a hidden gem for Psychology?
After financial aid, the average student pays $85,480 over four years — 58% below the $203,856 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →