Psychology at University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,794/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #217 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 $552K $547K $502K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.8x 9.7x 8.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 4.0x 3.7x
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)
$56,520
Out-of-state: $137,352 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,556
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,421
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,167
60% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $33,794/yr, edging above the $31,705 national average for Psychology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,421 represents roughly 7 months of the $33,794 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #217 of 926 nationally, this is a top-5% Psychology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $54,167 show a 60% jump from the $33,794 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Missouri-Columbia

University of Missouri-Columbia has a 77% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 23,118 in Columbia, MO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Missouri-Columbia →

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 Missouri-Columbia

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 Missouri-Columbia?
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 $502,448 in decade earnings vs $552,096 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Missouri-Columbia's Psychology program stand out?
Ranked #217 of 926 programs nationally, University of Missouri-Columbia 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 →