Psychology at University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$28,669/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk
High (49% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI
9.8x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)
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 | $560K | $554K | $508K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.9x | 9.8x | 9.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.1x | 3.1x | 2.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 51% | 47% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 36 | 35 | 35 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,668
Out-of-state: $179,776 (3.1x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,500
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,632
84% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Merced
A 39% acceptance rate puts University of California-Merced in competitive admissions territory, with a mid-sized student body of 8,372 in Merced, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 59% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Merced →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 University of California-Merced
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of California-Merced's Psychology program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Psychology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Psychology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Psychology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →