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Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,556/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)

ROI 12.0x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #133 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	$565K	$559K	$511K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.1x	12.0x	10.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.3x	3.3x	3.0x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,712

Out-of-state: $171,112 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$78,712

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,750

6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$55,701

66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,556 per year, Psychology graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn slightly above the $31,705 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.0x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,750 represents roughly 7 months of the $33,556 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #133 of 926 nationally, this is a top-5% Psychology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $55,701 show a 66% jump from the $33,556 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The University of Texas at Austin

A 29% acceptance rate puts The University of Texas at Austin in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 42,100 students in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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 The University of Texas at Austin

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 The University of Texas at Austin?

A score of 44/100 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 $511,113 in decade earnings vs $565,163 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes The University of Texas at Austin's Psychology program stand out?

Ranked #133 of 926 programs nationally, The University of Texas at Austin 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 →