Psychology at University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,121/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 7.7x earnings multiple (2.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #68 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 10%

Program Analysis

A Psychology degree from a top-tier institution like UVA positions you uniquely. The program's rigor and the university's strong brand reputation mean employers across diverse sectors, from consulting and tech to healthcare and government, recognize the caliber of your analytical and research skills. You'll find graduates leveraging their understanding of human behavior in roles far beyond traditional clinical paths, excelling in areas like UX research, human resources, marketing strategy, or data-driven policy analysis. Your proximity to major employment hubs in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. further enhances these opportunities, connecting you to federal agencies, prominent research institutions, and large corporations. While certain repetitive or diagnostic tasks in psychology may face future AI integration, your UVA education emphasizes critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and interpersonal communication — skills inherently difficult for AI to replicate. To future-proof your career, actively pursue internships that apply psychological principles in business or technology settings, or consider a minor in a quantitative field to complement your robust liberal arts foundation.

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 $657K $643K $572K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.8x 7.7x 6.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.8x 2.8x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 46 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$83,944
Out-of-state: $232,056 (2.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$91,524
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,268
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,873
88% growth from Year 1

About University of Virginia-Main Campus

Admission to University of Virginia-Main Campus is competitive, with 17% of applicants accepted, with a mid-sized student body of 17,315 in Charlottesville, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Virginia-Main Campus →

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 Virginia-Main Campus

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 Virginia-Main Campus?
A score of 46/100 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 $572,028 in decade earnings vs $657,026 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →