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Psychology · Research and Experimental Psychology Rank #34 of 84

Research and Experimental Psychologyat Smith College

Graduates earn $43,717/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Research and Experimental Psychology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $581K; scenarios range from $530K to $587K depending on AI disruption.

Northampton, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
42 AVERAGE
42
Optimistic
38
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,717
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$581K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Smith College

Smith College's Research and Experimental Psychology program, embedded within a top-tier liberal arts institution, emphasizes deep analytical thinking and research methodologies. Your strong foundation in empirical study and data interpretation prepares you for diverse postgraduate paths, often requiring further education to unlock higher earning potential. Many graduates leverage these skills in roles requiring complex problem-solving, like data analysis or research coordination, before pursuing advanced degrees in psychology, public health, or even law. The Five Colleges consortium provides unique academic breadth, but the immediate Northampton job market isn't a primary driver for post-grad earnings.

Given the high AI risk in some entry-level analytical roles, focus on developing specialized quantitative skills, advanced research design, or interpersonal expertise during your studies. This will future-proof your career in a rapidly evolving landscape.

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
$530K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple2.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$581K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$587K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Research and Experimental 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
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
+17.3% 10-yr growth · 27,400 openings/yr
$105,620/yr
Moderate
4
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
5
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
6
Clinical and counseling psychologists
+11.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$95,830/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Research and Experimental Psychology

How Smith College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Tufts University
MA · Private nonprofit
49
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Top score
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Johns Hopkins University
MD · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Yale University
CT · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
0.8x
ROI
Bates College
ME · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Also at Smith College

Other top programs at Smith College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Smith College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Research and Experimental Psychology at Smith College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Research and Experimental Psychology at Smith College?

A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Research and Experimental Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Research and Experimental Psychology careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $529,650 in decade earnings vs $587,130 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Smith College a hidden gem for Research and Experimental Psychology?

After financial aid, the average student pays $104,724 over four years — 57% below the $246,272 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.