Many students begin their journey by obtaining a 2-year associate’s degree, and then go on to earn a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year institution. A bachelor’s degree in psychology is a great step toward understanding the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It can prepare you to enter a graduate program, or it may serve as the foundation for your career. The psychology bachelor’s degree is exceptionally popular, with over 97,000 awarded in 2010–2011 (Snyder & Dillow, 2011), which could mean substantial competition in the job market. This is one place where the decision between entering the workforce or attending graduate school becomes important. Table B.1 gives you a sense of the types of jobs you can obtain with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

When it comes to earning potential, education level matters. People with bachelor’s degrees earn an estimated $2.3 million over the course of a lifetime. Contrast that with $1.3 million lifetime earnings for those with only high school diplomas. Higher-level degrees generally lead to the most lucrative positions. The average lifetime salary is $2.7 million for someone with a master’s degree, and $3.3 million for someone with a doctoral degree (Carnevale, Rose, & Cheah, 2011).

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