WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+3% vs national median280 grads tracked

Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University

Ranked 35th of 87 doctoral (research) programs in Psychology by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$59,231
middle 50%: $47,856 – $71,899
Median · 5 years out
$100,550
middle 50%: $78,058 – $115,490
Median · 10 years out
$110,004
middle 50%: $85,242 – $135,134

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Psychology (doctoral (research)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University's doctoral (research) program in Psychology earn a median $59,231 one year after graduating, rising to $110,004 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% above the national median of $97,549 for this field, ranking 35th of 87 reporting programs.

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
4.6 yrs
≈ $5,188 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Missouri - Columbia
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$101,341 · 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
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$100,527 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$100,194 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$99,720 · 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

Other majors at Virginia Commonwealth University

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$175,347 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$157,685 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$154,279 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,472 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$131,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,259 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,217 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$105,799 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$105,500 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$105,054 · 5 yrs out

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