Doctoral (Research)+2% vs national median396 grads tracked
Psychology at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ranked 38th of 87 doctoral (research) programs in Psychology by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$73,499
middle 50%: $56,416 – $100,171
Median · 5 years out
$99,720
middle 50%: $82,872 – $126,813
Median · 10 years out
$115,647
middle 50%: $92,787 – $145,746
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Psychology (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Psychology research doctorates from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign command a $73,499 median first-year salary. Pay grows to $115,647 by 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
4.2 yrs
≈ $4,492 total interest
Same major at other universities
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$101,274 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$100,766 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$100,766 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$100,550 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$100,527 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$100,194 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$99,674 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$98,997 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$98,926 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$98,450 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$98,259 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$97,725 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out