Psychology, General at William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,418/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.1x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #292 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $554K $548K $503K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.1x 9.1x 8.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.6x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 39 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$60,600
Out-of-state: $97,856 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,056
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,093
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,752
66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $32,418/yr, roughly in line with the $31,705 national median for Psychology, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.1x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Psychology, General'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 $22,093 represents roughly 8 months of the $32,418 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #292 of 926 Psychology, General programs, William Paterson University of New Jersey scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $53,752 show a 66% jump from the $32,418 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About William Paterson University of New Jersey

William Paterson University of New Jersey accepts 93% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 6,526 students in Wayne, NJ. 44% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey →

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, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at William Paterson University of New Jersey

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology, General at William Paterson University of New Jersey?
A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Psychology, General careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $503,463 in decade earnings vs $553,625 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →