Is a Psychology Degree Worth It? [2024 Guide]
By Joy Miller
Updated on September 4, 2024
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Is a psychology degree worth it? Many students discover that a psychology degree is a strategic degree choice that helps them either start intriguing careers or prepare for success in grad school.
Psychology is a diverse field with wide-ranging applications, so majoring in psychology has the potential to take you far in life.
Yes, a psychology degree is worth it for many professionals. Once you earn a psychology degree, you may find that there are many career options in front of you. Some psychology majors pursue business management jobs, which you can often get with only a bachelor’s degree.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, management jobs are growing faster than the national average. For example, jobs for public relations managers and training and development managers are predicted to grow at a 6% rate over the next decade.
Also, if you plan to go to grad school, then the answer to “Is a degree in psychology worth it?” may be “yes.” A psychology bachelor’s degree can help set you up for many graduate fields, such as:
You could even choose to enter medical school to become a psychiatrist. You could also go to law school to become a lawyer.
It’s necessary to hold at least a master’s degree—and, in many cases, a doctorate—to become a professional psychologist. Jobs for psychologists are projected to grow at a 6% rate over the next ten years (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that there will be a 7% increase in social work jobs available over the next ten years.
Have you ever wondered, “Is a psychology major worth it?” The answer to that question depends on whether this degree is the right fit for you and what you want to do with your life.
If a psychology major can help you accomplish your goals, then you are likely to find the effort worthwhile—especially with flexible online courses that make education accessible.
Check out whether the following descriptions strike a chord with you.
The field of psychology is all about the ways that humans think and behave. It makes sense, then, that most psychology majors end up doing some sort of job that involves working with people.
Some become counselors or run human services organizations. Others lead people in management roles. The setting and responsibilities can vary greatly from one psychology graduate to the next, but there’s a common thread among them.
Psychology professionals are often creative problem solvers. In some settings, that means helping a patient identify a solution to a personal crisis or a relationship struggle.
In other cases, it could mean connecting a human services client to the right support service or identifying a shift that could increase a company’s productivity.
In psychology classes and careers, you’ll learn to observe details and work with data. For example, careful reading of people’s body language can help you succeed.
It’s also necessary to keep accurate records of experiments, assessments, and interactions with clients.
One of the great things about majoring in psychology is that you won’t be locked into any one career path. You can find many different opportunities for which your degree will be relevant, including the five options listed below.
It probably comes as no surprise that a psychology major would want to work as a psychologist. In that role, you could counsel clients, advise businesses on employee retention practices, or connect special education students to support services.
After your bachelor’s program, you would be required to earn a graduate degree for this job.
Success in the HR field requires understanding how to resolve conflicts, motivate employees, and build strong teams—all things for which a psychology degree could be useful.
You may start as an assistant or a specialist, but you might work your way toward management positions.
For a career that links criminal justice and psychology, you could work as a correctional treatment specialist.
You could be a case manager for people on probation or parole. Through your work, you could help criminal offenders reintegrate into society and become contributing members of their communities.
If your goal is to help the people in your community, then you might want to look for a job in a social service agency.
You could work with children, the elderly, immigrants, or people with disabilities. After starting as a case worker or an intake specialist, you might move toward management roles.
For organizations that depend on donations, it’s critical to have an effective fundraising team in place.
Knowing what motivates people and inspires loyalty could help you be quite successful as a fundraiser. Through your work, you could build meaningful relationships and contribute to the mission of an organization.
While a psychology bachelor’s degree can be a strategic choice for many people, here are some alternative degrees to consider:
For those who stick with psychology, consider whether to get a BA vs. BS in Psychology. Would you prefer a BA’s emphasis on liberal arts or a BS’s focus on statistics?
Majoring in psychology can be useful for a wide variety of careers that involve working with others or understanding how people think and act.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the life, physical, and social sciences have a median annual salary of $74,330.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Human Resources Managers | $130,000 |
| Public Relations Managers | $129,430 |
| Training and Development Managers | $120,000 |
| Fundraising Managers | $107,390 |
| Psychologists | $85,330 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $74,240 |
| Market Research Analysts | $68,230 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $59,860 |
| Social Workers | $55,350 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $49,710 |
For some of these jobs, such as psychologist, it’s necessary to continue your psychology education beyond a bachelor’s degree.
A psychology degree offers the potential for career success. Of course, that doesn’t mean that everything about psychology studies is smooth sailing.
Before selecting psychology as your major, you may want to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of this field so that you can be prepared for what’s to come. The below job growth and salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
If the pros outweigh the cons for you, then this might be the right major for you.
In general, psychology is not seen as a STEM major. That’s primarily because it’s not one of the hard sciences. Rather than outwardly observable processes, psychology deals with the processes that go on inside people’s minds.
The American Psychological Association (APA) would like to change how psychology is classified, posing the question, “Is psychology a STEM major?” Although different from the hard sciences, psychology is a science that relies on data and testing. Plus, new scientific developments and advancements often come about through the application of psychological findings.
The median annual salary for a psychologist is $85,330. Your personal income will depend on a variety of factors, including which branch of psychology you choose.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that some of the highest salaries go to industrial-organizational psychologists. They earn a median of $139,280 each year. The median salary for clinical and counseling psychologists is $90,130, and school psychologists’ median income is $81,500 per year.
Psychiatrists, who are medical doctors, earn a median of $226,880. Psychiatric technicians and aides make a median of $37,330.
So, what can you do with a psychology degree? Plenty of things! You could launch a career in business or social services. Alternatively, you could continue your education and work toward a career as a licensed psychologist or a survey researcher.
When you’re ready to get started on your psychology schooling, you can explore your options for an online degree. Accredited online colleges offer rigorous training, and an online bachelor’s degree in psychology can thoroughly prepare you for the workforce or a graduate program.
Online college is flexible and convenient, which is ideal for busy adult learners. You can start exploring accredited psychology programs today—click “Find My Program,” to find the one that’s right for you!
Take our quiz and we'll do the homework for you! Compare your school matches and apply to your top choice today.
