Psychology at University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,808/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 16.9x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #26 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 5%

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 $525K $522K $485K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.0x 16.9x 15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.4x 7.3x 6.8x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 49 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,832
Out-of-state: $71,152 (7.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,492
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,750
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,370
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,808 at University of Houston-Downtown come in 13% above the national median of $31,705 for Psychology programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.9x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,750 represents roughly 6 months of the $35,808 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #26 of 926 nationally, this is a top-5% Psychology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $35,808 to $51,370 over five years — a 43% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Houston-Downtown

University of Houston-Downtown accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 12,812 in Houston, TX. With 52% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston-Downtown →

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 University of Houston-Downtown

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology at University of Houston-Downtown?
A score of 49/100 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 $484,546 in decade earnings vs $525,095 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Houston-Downtown's Psychology program stand out?
Ranked #26 of 926 programs nationally, University of Houston-Downtown lands in the top 5%. 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 →