ROI Major

Psychology, General at Utah Tech University

UT · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 42.01

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Psychology, General degree from Utah Tech University earn a median salary of $52,872 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in UT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $51,084. The degree typically pays for itself in 11.8 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

$39,371

Typical Career

$52,872

Top Performers

$68,363

Estimated break-even: 11.8 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$352

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,406. Most students can comfortably afford about a $352 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Utah buys what costs $1.04 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 24.3%
Educational Services 19.7%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 11.2%

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

$51,084

Nominal: $52,872 in Utah (COL 103.5% of national avg) · 3.4% 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).

11.8 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 $24,162 $32,214 $42,718
5 Years After Graduation $39,371 $52,872 $68,363
10 Years After Graduation $50,539 $61,332 $76,958

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 $52,872 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in UT, which has a cost-of-living index of 103.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $52,872 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0350) = $51,084 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates with a degree in Psychology, General from Utah Tech University can expect a positive earnings trajectory. Median earnings one year after graduation stand at $32,214, increasing to $52,872 five years post-graduation, and reaching $61,332 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median five-year salary aligns closely with the national equivalent at $51,084.06, reflecting a relatively stable economic outlook for graduates in the state of Utah, where the cost of living index is slightly higher than the national average.

The primary industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (24.3%), Educational Services (19.7%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (11.2%). The estimated break-even point for those pursuing this degree compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 11.8 years, suggesting a moderate return on investment. Overall, while the earnings potential is promising, students should weigh the time and financial commitment against their career aspirations and the specific job market in Utah.

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 Utah Tech 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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