Master's+9% vs national median155 grads tracked
Psychology at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 45th of 205 master's programs in Psychology by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$43,901
middle 50%: $33,897 – $67,768
Median · 5 years out
$73,190
middle 50%: $53,421 – $88,896
Median · 10 years out
$91,176
middle 50%: $73,773 – $113,610
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Psychology (master's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Northern Illinois University Psychology master's graduates earn a median of $44k in their first year. Salaries reach $73k at year five and $91k at year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
6 yrs
≈ $7,065 total interest
Same major at other universities
Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University
$73,920 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$73,668 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$73,665 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
$73,422 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
$73,355 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$73,209 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$73,093 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$72,966 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$72,814 · 5 yrs out
Southern Connecticut State University
$72,728 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$72,356 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
$72,286 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out