ROI Major

Research and Experimental Psychology at University of North Georgia

GA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 42.27

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Research and Experimental Psychology degree from University of North Georgia earn a median salary of $47,426 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in GA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $52,404. The degree typically pays for itself in 14.9 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

$35,254

Typical Career

$47,426

Top Performers

$61,942

Estimated break-even: 14.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$316

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,952. Most students can comfortably afford about a $316 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Georgia buys what costs $0.91 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 29.2%
Health Care & Social Assistance 17.1%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 8.4%

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

$52,404

Nominal: $47,426 in Georgia (COL 90.5% of national avg) · 10.5% higher 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).

14.9 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 $23,525 $31,965 $41,278
5 Years After Graduation $35,254 $47,426 $61,942
10 Years After Graduation $41,769 $55,675 $72,134

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 $47,426 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in GA, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $47,426 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9050) = $52,404 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates in Research and Experimental Psychology from the University of North Georgia experience a steady earnings trajectory, with median earnings of $31,965 one year after graduation, rising to $47,426 after five years, and reaching $55,675 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equivalent is approximately $52,404.42, reflecting a favorable financial outlook in comparison to national averages, particularly given Georgia's cost of living index of 0.905.

The top industries for graduates include Educational Services (29.2%), Health Care & Social Assistance (17.1%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (8.4%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is around 14.9 years, suggesting a moderate return on investment. Overall, while the earnings potential is promising, students should consider the time required to recoup educational costs in relation to their career goals.

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

Compare with Another School

See how the Research and Experimental Psychology degree at University of North Georgia 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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