Research and Experimental Psychologyat University of Pennsylvania
Graduates earn $44,542/yr in their first year — about 27.0% above the national Research and Experimental Psychology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $501K; scenarios range from $470K to $502K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Pennsylvania
Your degree from a highly selective institution like Penn, especially in Research and Experimental Psychology, signals a rigorous analytical foundation and a deep understanding of human behavior. This isn't just about therapeutic practice; it's about mastering research design, statistical analysis, and data interpretation, skills highly prized across diverse industries.
You'll find opportunities extending far beyond traditional psychology roles into areas like user experience (UX) research at tech companies, market analysis for consumer brands, data science, or even specialized consulting. Philadelphia's vibrant ecosystem, with its pharmaceutical giants, burgeoning tech scene, and numerous research institutions, provides a robust local job market and valuable internship opportunities. The strong reputation of the program ensures you'll be competitive for top-tier roles or further graduate studies. To maximize your prospects, actively seek internships that apply your quantitative skills, perhaps in a corporate research setting or a data-driven non-profit, to translate academic rigor into practical experience.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Pennsylvania's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Research and Experimental Psychology
How University of Pennsylvania stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Pennsylvania
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Pennsylvania, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Research and Experimental Psychology at University of Pennsylvania
How does University of Pennsylvania's Research and Experimental Psychology program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Research and Experimental Psychology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Research and Experimental Psychology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Research and Experimental Psychology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Research and Experimental Psychology at University of Pennsylvania after financial aid?
Sticker price is $264,416, but the average net cost is $124,916 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.