Best Schools for Behavioral Sciences

Behavioral Sciences graduates earn a median of $48,064 within four years of graduating, ranking #202 out of 283 tracked majors — 23% below the median across all fields. There are 19 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 11,264 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Kansas graduates earn $58,883 while Rowan University graduates earn $35,817 — a $23,066 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is strong: Behavioral Sciences graduates see an average 20% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$48,064

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#202

of 283 Majors

11,264

Graduates

Public vs Private: Behavioral Sciences

Public (8 schools)

$48,838

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (11 schools)

$47,672

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Behavioral Sciences, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Behavioral Sciences by State

Also by state: Texas

Top Behavioral Sciences Schools by Graduate Earnings

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS · Public

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, MI · Public

$57,325

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 70.0%

George Fox University

Newberg, OR · Private

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

University of Houston-Clear Lake

Houston, TX · Public

York College of Pennsylvania

York, PA · Private

$50,634

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

2yr: $30,047 (21)

1yr: $33,335 (49)

Acceptance: 94.2%

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$48,922

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

2yr: $33,281 (16)

Acceptance: 73.6%

Concordia University-Nebraska

Seward, NE · Private

$48,215

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

2yr: $27,476 (13)

Acceptance: 90.0%

Life Pacific University

San Dimas, CA · Private

$47,612

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

1yr: $22,803 (22)

Acceptance: 94.0%

#10

Saint Francis University

Loretto, PA · Private

$47,316

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 76.9%

#11

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Green Bay, WI · Public

Concordia University-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Private

$46,098

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

Missouri Baptist University

Saint Louis, MO · Private

$44,069

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

1yr: $25,428 (17)

Acceptance: 64.1%

#14

Columbia College

Columbia, SC · Private

$39,738

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

2yr: $25,194 (24)

Acceptance: 95.8%

#15

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, IN · Public

$37,956

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ · Public

$35,817

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 77.8%

#17

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO · Public

$36,041

2yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

East-West University

Chicago, IL · Private

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD · Private

$30,771

2yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

1yr: $17,641 (22)

Grads: 22

Acceptance: 7.6%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions $31,735 Sociology $31,614 Biological and Physical Sciences $31,551 Social Work $31,525 Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services $31,502 Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other $31,451

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Behavioral Sciences?

University of Kansas ranks #1 for Behavioral Sciences with median graduate earnings of $58,883 within four years of graduating. There are 19 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Behavioral Sciences graduates earn?

Behavioral Sciences graduates earn an average of $48,064 within four years of graduating. This is 23% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $35,817 to $58,883 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Behavioral Sciences program?

The average acceptance rate across Behavioral Sciences programs is 76.9%. The most selective program is at Johns Hopkins University with a 7.6% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Behavioral Sciences?

Private Behavioral Sciences programs average $47,672 in early earnings vs $48,838 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

Get Behavioral Sciences Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.