Psychology at Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
34
Optimistic
34
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,452/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #503 of 926 Psychology, General programs

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 $582K $575K $523K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.6x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 34 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$217,140
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$139,208
36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,587
59% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,452 at Seattle University come in 18% above the national median of $31,705 for Psychology programs.

The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $37,452 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #503 of 926 Psychology programs, Seattle University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $59,587 show a 59% jump from the $37,452 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Seattle University

Seattle University accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,117 in Seattle, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $139,208 — 36% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Seattle 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 Seattle University

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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 Seattle University?
A score of 34/100 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 $522,598 in decade earnings vs $582,483 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →