Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates earn a median $50,523 four years after finishing — $2,163/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 31.3 years. Federal data pools 170 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 3,918 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology ranks #163 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 20% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | FL | $82,023 |
| 2 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | AZ | $82,023 |
| 3 | Boston College | MA | $76,328 |
| 4 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | PA | $75,549 |
| 5 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | NY | $73,007 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Pacific University | CA | $71,935 |
| 7 | Pace University | NY | $67,811 |
| 8 | Azusa Pacific University | CA | $66,411 |
| 9 | Western Michigan University | MI | $64,679 |
| 10 | California State University-San Bernardino | CA | $63,062 |
| 11 | Emmanuel College | MA | $62,013 |
| 12 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | IN | $60,898 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.