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Psychology at University of North Carolina Asheville

Asheville, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $24,666/yr (-22% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 15.9x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #531 of 926 Psychology, General programs

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	$471K	$473K	$449K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.8x	15.9x	15.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.8x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	33	33	32

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$29,844

Out-of-state: $99,236 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,460

-72% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

9.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$40,008

62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $24,666 per year, Psychology graduates from University of North Carolina Asheville earn below the $31,705 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 15.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$24,666 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #531 out of 926 programs, University of North Carolina Asheville's financial outcomes for Psychology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $24,666 to $40,008 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of North Carolina Asheville

With 94% of applicants admitted, University of North Carolina Asheville prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 2,790 in Asheville, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina Asheville →

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 North Carolina Asheville

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

How does University of North Carolina Asheville's Psychology program score?

This program scores 33/100 — 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.

Why are Psychology earnings lower at University of North Carolina Asheville?

Lower starting pay at University of North Carolina Asheville may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →