Psychology at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,936/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #224 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 25%

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 $520K $517K $481K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.3x 11.3x 10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.6x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 41 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,000
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,984
47% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Texas State University's Psychology graduates start at $33,936/yr — above the $31,705 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Psychology programs nationally.

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 $21,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $33,936 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #224 of 926 nationally, this is a top-5% Psychology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $33,936 to $49,984 over five years — a 47% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Texas State University

A 89% acceptance rate means Texas State University is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 34,547 in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas State 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 Texas State 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 Texas State University?
A score of 41/100 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 $480,967 in decade earnings vs $519,700 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Texas State University's Psychology program stand out?
Ranked #224 of 926 programs nationally, Texas State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →