First, some facts. Of the Psychology graduates from West Virginia University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 30 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 54%, Psychology graduates from West Virginia University have a much lower likelihood (-13%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 50% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Psychology graduate.
See the details:
Relevance score: 0%We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2012 from West Virginia University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONSales and Customer ServiceBestlaminate Apr 2013 - Feb 2017 CL Direct Sales Progressive Insurance Mar 2017 - Feb 2018 CL BIT Multi-Product Specialist Progressive Insurance Feb 2018 - Nov 2018 Resolution Specialist Progressive Insurance Nov 2018 - May 2019 CL Small Business Insurance - Coach Progressive Insurance May 2019 - Jan 2021 CL Small Business Insurance - Supervisor Progressive Insurance Jan 2021 - Feb 2022 CL Business Process Consultant Progressive Insurance Feb 2022 - Present ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When analyzing the job history of individuals who graduated with a Psychology degree from West Virginia University, it's clear that there's a diverse range of career paths they have explored. Many have found roles in fields such as law, healthcare, education, and social work, which directly utilize the psychological knowledge they acquired during their studies. Positions like Clinical Psychologist, Behavioral Therapist, and various roles within social services stand out as being particularly relevant to psychology, as they apply psychological principles in everyday practice. For example, jobs such as the Assistant Public Defender and the Student Research Assistant showcase how psychological insights are crucial in understanding human behavior and effective intervention strategies.
However, it's also important to note that a significant number of graduates have taken roles in fields that don't directly involve psychology. Positions like sales representatives, servers, and various management roles often lack the specific application of psychological knowledge, focusing instead on customer service, retail, or administrative functions. While these roles may benefit from a general understanding of human behavior and interpersonal skills, they do not fully leverage the training received in psychology programs. Overall, it's a mixed bag: while many graduates successfully find meaningful work in psychology-related fields, a sizable portion end up in positions where their degree isn't as directly relevant.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Psychology graduates (this is across all Psychology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to West Virginia University):
Looking at the career trajectories of graduates with a Psychology degree from West Virginia University, it seems there's quite a mix of paths they take right after graduation and a few years down the line. For many of them, their first job is often something that doesn't directly relate to Psychology. For instance, positions like server or sales coordinator pop up frequently. However, this isn't too surprising as many new grads take on roles that help pay the bills while they figure out their next steps. Over time, though, some of them start to pivot towards more relevant fields. For example, there's a notable number that have moved into roles like case manager or behavioral health technician, signaling a gradual shift back to using their degree in more meaningful ways.
Fast forward 5 to 10 years, and you'll find some graduates really found their niche in Psychology-related careers. Individuals have taken solid steps into law, education, clinical psychology, and social work, often climbing the ladder into more advanced roles like clinical managers or licensed psychologists. On the flip side, quite a few have landed in jobs that are more business-oriented or even unrelated to Psych entirely, like various managerial roles in retail or customer service. So, while it seems like a decent amount of folks do end up in relevant careers, there's also a fair share who might feel a bit disconnected from their degree, at least in the early stages of their careers. Ultimately, the paths vary widely, but many seem to circle back to roles that utilize their Psychology education in some way.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology can vary in difficulty depending on your interests and strengths, but at West Virginia University, it’s pretty manageable for most students, especially if you have a genuine interest in the subject. The coursework typically includes a mix of foundational psychology classes, research methods, and electives, which can be engaging if you enjoy learning about human behavior and mental processes. Some students find the heavy emphasis on statistics and research methods a bit challenging, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, you'll likely find it more interesting than tough. Overall, it’s not considered one of the hardest degrees out there, but like anything else, it requires dedication and a bit of time management to keep up with the readings and assignments.
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Psychology.
Looking at this group of Psychology grads from West Virginia University, it seems like they've had a pretty mixed bag in terms of salary potential. The ones who’ve climbed the ladder in legal and corporate environments, like the criminal attorneys and those in management positions at firms, are likely making decent money, especially as they’ve progressed to higher roles. On the other hand, some folks, especially those working in education and entry-level therapy positions, probably aren't raking in the big bucks yet but are gaining valuable experience. So overall, while some are likely doing well financially, others are still in those foundational roles that might take a bit longer to pay off. It goes to show that fields like psychology can be rewarding in various ways, but financial success varies a lot based on the career path chosen.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Psychology (this is across all Psychology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to West Virginia University). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Psychology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Psychology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: