Psychology at University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
38
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,565/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #313 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 50%

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) 9.9x 9.7x 8.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.8x 4.8x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 38 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,352
Out-of-state: $117,440 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$49,252
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,934
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,233
77% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Illinois Chicago's Psychology program produces graduates earning $30,565/yr — within striking distance of the $31,705 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 $15,934 represents roughly 6 months of the $30,565 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #313 of 926 Psychology programs, University of Illinois Chicago scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $54,233 show a 77% jump from the $30,565 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Illinois Chicago

A 78% acceptance rate means University of Illinois Chicago is accessible to most applicants, with 21,814 students enrolled in Chicago, IL. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Chicago →

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 Illinois Chicago

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 University of Illinois Chicago?
A score of 38/100 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 $511,036 in decade earnings vs $565,044 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →