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Best Schools for Research and Experimental Psychology

Research and Experimental Psychology graduates earn a median of $30,212 within two years of graduation, ranking #220 out of 292 tracked majors — 15% below the median across all fields. There are 57 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 5,094 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Harvard University graduates earn $57,318 while University of California-San Diego graduates earn $15,817 — a $41,501 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Research and Experimental Psychology graduates see an average -5% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

57
Schools
$30,212
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#220
of 292 Majors
5,094
Graduates

Public vs Private: Research and Experimental Psychology

Public (34 schools)
$27,394
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (21 schools)
$34,758
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $7,364 more in early earnings on average for Research and Experimental Psychology graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Research and Experimental Psychology by State

Massachusetts
8 schools
$38,824
California
6 schools
$26,926
Connecticut
6 schools
$21,814
New York
4 schools
$33,236
New Jersey
4 schools
$31,984
Georgia
4 schools
$29,535
Colorado
3 schools
$28,670
Michigan
3 schools
$24,930

Top Research and Experimental Psychology Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
H

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA · Private

$57,318
2yr Earnings
1yr: $53,927
Grads: 30
Acceptance: 3.5%
#2
A

Amherst College

Amherst, MA · Private

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,688
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 9.8%
#3
T

Tufts University

Medford, MA · Private

$43,798
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,754
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 10.1%
#4
C

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,906
Grads: 94
Acceptance: 4.2%
#5
N

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 7.1%
#6
U

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$39,015
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,175
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 4.8%
#7
B

Boston University

Boston, MA · Private

$38,018
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,431
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 10.8%
#8
N

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

$38,018
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,413
Grads: 77
Acceptance: 5.7%
#9
N

Northeastern University Professional Programs

Boston, MA ·

$38,018
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,413
Grads: 77
Acceptance: N/A
#10
T

Trinity Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$37,980
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,867
Grads: 82
Acceptance: 99.2%
#11
M

Mount St. Mary's University

Emmitsburg, MD · Private

$37,748
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,282
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 71.9%
#12
M

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 96.5%
#13
P

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,198
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 4.5%
#14
U

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$33,859
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,098
Grads: 97
Acceptance: 77.0%
#15
U

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$33,157
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,860
Grads: 625
Acceptance: 41.6%
#16
M

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO · Public

$33,119
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,388
Grads: 96
Acceptance: 99.1%
#17
U

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY · Private

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,115
Grads: 37
Acceptance: 35.9%
#18
P

Park University

Parkville, MO · Private

$32,658
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,805
Grads: 227
Acceptance: N/A
#19
T

The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, TX · Public

$32,332
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,908
Grads: 179
Acceptance: 65.5%
#20
G

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public

$31,839
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,757
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 16.5%
#21
R

Rutgers University-Camden

Camden, NJ · Public

$31,314
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,569
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 77.8%
#22
R

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

$31,314
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,569
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 65.3%
#23
R

Rutgers University-Newark

Newark, NJ · Public

$31,314
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,569
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 78.7%
#24
U

Utica University

Utica, NY · Private

$30,984
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,805
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 87.2%
#25
U

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$30,899
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,978
Grads: 465
Acceptance: 27.8%
#26
L

Lesley University

Cambridge, MA · Private

$30,771
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 94.4%
#27
U

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public

$30,119
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,411
Grads: 62
Acceptance: 77.8%
#28
U

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$30,035
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,126
Grads: 500
Acceptance: 17.9%
#29
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$30,024
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,585
Grads: 593
Acceptance: 25.6%
#30
G

Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, GA · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,274
Grads: 77
Acceptance: 87.8%
#31
Q

Quinnipiac University

Hamden, CT · Private

$29,141
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 77.0%
#32
U

University of Delaware

Newark, DE · Public

$29,064
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,180
Grads: 173
Acceptance: 65.1%
#33
E

Eckerd College

Saint Petersburg, FL · Private

$28,960
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,555
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 78.7%
#34
N

Northwest Missouri State University

Maryville, MO · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,584
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 85.9%
#35
U

University of South Carolina-Upstate

Spartanburg, SC · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.6%
#36
S

Savannah State University

Savannah, GA · Public

$28,381
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,087
Grads: 37
Acceptance: N/A
#37
U

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, GA · Public

$28,236
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,223
Grads: 119
Acceptance: 72.2%
#38
P

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

$27,343
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,965
Grads: 95
Acceptance: 50.3%
#39
C

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$26,739
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,211
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 98.3%
#40
U

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public

$26,421
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,963
Grads: 223
Acceptance: 61.5%
#41
C

Canisius University

Buffalo, NY · Private

$26,353
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,164
Grads: 66
Acceptance: 81.8%
#42
E

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, WA · Public

$25,856
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,605
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 91.8%
#43
F

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL · Public

$25,658
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,190
Grads: 50
Acceptance: 73.4%
#44
M

Murray State University

Murray, KY · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,818
Grads: 51
Acceptance: 86.2%
#45
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$24,921
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,474
Grads: 219
Acceptance: 8.7%
#46
W

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public

$24,615
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 84.7%
#47
L

Loyola University New Orleans

New Orleans, LA · Private

$24,035
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 87.7%
#48
C

Colorado Christian University

Lakewood, CO ·

$22,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,437
Grads: 32
Acceptance: N/A
#49
V

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private

$21,508
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 6.3%
#50
U

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

$20,349
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,189
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 53.9%

Showing top 50 of 57 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other $30,504 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication $30,433 History $30,303 Theological and Ministerial Studies $30,246 Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies $30,213 Graphic Communications $29,908

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Research and Experimental Psychology?
Harvard University ranks #1 for Research and Experimental Psychology with median graduate earnings of $57,318 within two years. There are 57 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Research and Experimental Psychology graduates earn?
Research and Experimental Psychology graduates earn an average of $30,212 within two years of graduation. This is 15% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $15,817 to $57,318 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Research and Experimental Psychology program?
The average acceptance rate across Research and Experimental Psychology programs is 56.4%. The most selective program is at Harvard University with a 3.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Research and Experimental Psychology?
Private Research and Experimental Psychology programs average $34,758 in early earnings vs $27,394 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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