Doctoral (Research)+4% vs national median250 grads tracked
Psychology at University of Virginia
Ranked 31st of 87 doctoral (research) programs in Psychology by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$61,446
middle 50%: $49,217 – $80,145
Median · 5 years out
$101,341
middle 50%: $81,482 – $124,854
Median · 10 years out
$119,072
middle 50%: $91,284 – $152,847
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 earn $61k in their first year. Ten-year median pay is $119k.
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
4.5 yrs
≈ $5,056 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Utah
$102,796 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$102,480 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$101,862 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
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
Other majors at University of Virginia
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$222,735 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$222,735 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$198,412 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$187,481 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$163,027 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$162,877 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$144,468 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$144,468 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$134,161 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$133,882 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$133,294 · 5 yrs out