ROI Major

Clinical, Counseling, and Applied Psychology at Oregon Institute of Technology

OR · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 42.28

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Clinical, Counseling, and Applied Psychology degree from Oregon Institute of Technology earn a median salary of $52,527 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OR, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $45,955. The degree typically pays for itself in 11.1 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$40,342

Typical Career

$52,527

Top Performers

$63,522

Estimated break-even: 11.1 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$350

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,377. Most students can comfortably afford about a $350 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Oregon buys what costs $1.14 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 41.3%
Manufacturing 16.5%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 10.4%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$45,955

Nominal: $52,527 in Oregon (COL 114.3% of national avg) · 12.5% lower purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

11.1 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $26,217 $36,279 $46,344
5 Years After Graduation $40,342 $52,527 $63,522
10 Years After Graduation $46,055 $63,394 $75,224

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $52,527 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OR, which has a cost-of-living index of 114.3% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $52,527 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1430) = $45,955 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates in Clinical, Counseling, and Applied Psychology from Oregon Institute of Technology experience a positive earnings trajectory over time. One year post-graduation, the median earnings stand at $36,279, which increases to $52,527 after five years and reaches $63,394 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns more closely with the national average at approximately $45,955.38, indicating that while initial earnings may be lower, the long-term financial outlook improves significantly.

The primary industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (41.3%), Manufacturing (16.5%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (10.4%). The estimated break-even point for those pursuing this degree compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 11.1 years, suggesting that while the initial investment in education may take time to recoup, the long-term benefits in terms of career opportunities and salary potential can be substantial. Overall, the return on investment appears favorable for students considering this field.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Clinical, Counseling, and Applied Psychology degree at Oregon Institute of Technology stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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