Home Schools Vassar College Research and Experimental Psychology
Psychology · Research and Experimental Psychology Rank #69 of 84

Research and Experimental Psychologyat Vassar College

Graduates earn $34,361/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Research and Experimental Psychology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $445K; scenarios range from $428K to $442K depending on AI disruption.

Poughkeepsie, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
34 AT RISK
35
Optimistic
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,361
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$445K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Vassar College

Vassar's Research and Experimental Psychology program is a strong foundation from a highly respected liberal arts institution, emphasizing critical thinking and rigorous analysis. The financial data, however, reflects common trends for research-focused psychology at the bachelor's level: many graduates pursue advanced degrees like Master's or PhDs before entering their peak earning years. This specific program often prepares you for graduate school or highly analytical roles in data science, research, or even non-profit work, rather than direct, high-paying applied psychology positions immediately after graduation.

Your Vassar degree opens doors due to its prestige and alumni network, particularly in academic, research, or policy-oriented fields where the analytical rigor of this program shines. Given the high AI risk associated with many psychology roles, focusing on developing advanced statistical skills, complex problem-solving, and interdisciplinary applications will be crucial for your long-term career success. Leverage your Vassar experience to build a unique skillset that complements automation, rather than competes with it.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$428K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple1.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$445K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score34/100
Earnings Multiple1.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$442K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple1.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Vassar College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Research and Experimental Psychology graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Psychologists, all other
+4.3% 10-yr growth · 3,900 openings/yr
$117,580/yr
Moderate
3
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
+17.3% 10-yr growth · 27,400 openings/yr
$105,620/yr
Moderate
4
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
5
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
6
Clinical and counseling psychologists
+11.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$95,830/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Research and Experimental Psychology

How Vassar College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Tufts University
MA · Private nonprofit
49
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Top score
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Johns Hopkins University
MD · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Yale University
CT · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
0.8x
ROI
Bates College
ME · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Also at Vassar College

Other top programs at Vassar College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Vassar College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Research and Experimental Psychology at Vassar College

How does Vassar College's Research and Experimental Psychology program score?

This program scores 34/100 — 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.