Palo Alto University

Palo Alto, California · Private, nonprofit

Of 4 assessed programs, 3 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 1 fall short. Another 4 could not be assessed.

Program earnings vs a high-school graduate

Earnings are measured four years after completion when available. Where four-year earnings are suppressed, one-year earnings are shown and marked 1-year earnings. One-year and four-year figures reflect different career stages and should not be compared as if measured at the same time.

4 of 8 programs could be assessed 50% have an earnings verdict

Programs by earnings versus a typical California high-school graduate.
Program	Degree	Median earnings	vs a high-school grad	Verdict	Median debt	Years to repay	Recent completers
Mental Health and Counseling Services	Master's Degree	$59,295 1-year earnings	+$22,319	clears the bar	$75,599	3.4 yrs	100
Counseling Psychology	Master's Degree	$85,224	+$48,248	clears the bar	$99,711	2.1 yrs	67
Psychology	Bachelor's Degree	$29,432 1-year earnings	-$7,544	falls short	$16,470	insufficient data	16
Counseling Psychology	Doctoral Degree	$121,995	+$85,019	clears the bar	$286,181	3.4 yrs	insufficient data
Counseling Psychology	First Professional Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	122
Psychology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	26
Counseling Psychology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	9
Research Psychology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release 2026-06-10. Earnings are medians measured four years after completion where available (programs shown with a 1-year figure are marked), compared with the state high-school-graduate benchmark ($36,976/yr). Debt is federal loans only. Suppressed values are shown as insufficient data, never imputed. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise.