ROI Major

Psychology, General at Quinnipiac University

CT · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 42.01

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Psychology, General degree from Quinnipiac University earn a median salary of $66,822 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $57,955. The degree typically pays for itself in 7.9 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$53,629

Typical Career

$66,822

Top Performers

$81,529

Estimated break-even: 7.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$445

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,569. Most students can comfortably afford about a $445 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Connecticut buys what costs $1.15 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 31.8%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 14.9%
Educational Services 10.3%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$57,955

Nominal: $66,822 in Connecticut (COL 115.3% of national avg) · 13.3% lower purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

7.9 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $23,112 $32,062 $44,885
5 Years After Graduation $53,629 $66,822 $81,529
10 Years After Graduation $65,774 $83,557 $110,004

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $66,822 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CT, which has a cost-of-living index of 115.3% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $66,822 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1530) = $57,955 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

The earnings trajectory for Psychology, General graduates from Quinnipiac University shows a significant increase over time. Graduates earn a median of $32,062 one year after graduation, which rises to $66,822 after five years and reaches $83,557 after ten years. However, considering the cost of living in Connecticut, where the cost of living index is 1.153 compared to the national average of 1.0, the purchasing-power-adjusted salary after five years is approximately $57,954.9, indicating that while earnings increase, the purchasing power may be impacted by higher living costs.

Graduates typically enter industries such as Health Care & Social Assistance (31.8%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (14.9%), and Educational Services (10.3%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 7.9 years, suggesting that while the initial earnings may be lower, the long-term financial benefits of a degree in psychology can be substantial. Overall, the return on investment for this degree appears favorable, particularly for those committed to careers in the growing fields of health and education.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Psychology, General degree at Quinnipiac University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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