CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Costa Mesa, California

Is Psychology, General at Vanguard University of Southern California worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back slowly: graduates typically recover the cost in about 10.9 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$43,038
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$51,109
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$19,502
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$99k (likely $99k – $99k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$12k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in CA
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
10.9 years (likely 7.7–19.9)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
−$173k (likely −$246k – −$109k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
−$12k (likely −$162k – $144k)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
55%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in
not reported / ≤ 20%
NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20

Change income, residency or loans Compare Psychology, General at other schools

🍎 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward teaching & helping people majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP Psychology
  • AP English Language and Composition
  • AP Statistics

IB Higher Level

  • Psychology HL
  • Language A HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at Vanguard University of Southern California

Psychology, General at other schools in California