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Psychology General.

Ashford University · San Diego, CA · CIP 4201 · Master's

Passes DOE model

This grouping passes the DOE earnings model in the public rulemaking data.

⚠ Data caution

This record reflects a 4-digit CIP grouping (4201) used in DOE's public modeling file. Actual enforcement under the proposed rule would operate at the 6-digit CIP level. The specific programs inside this grouping depend on institution-assigned CIP coding and may not map neatly to how Ashford University markets its majors.

Earnings data

Median earnings (yr 4 after completion)

$50,601

n=426

DOE earnings benchmark

$48,653

$1,948 above benchmark

Benchmark type

National Same-Field BA Median

Program context

Enrollment & completion

Program enrollment

834 (2024–25)
992 (2023–24)

Completers

245 (2024–25)
225 (2023–24)

Non-completion rate

14.6%

164 non-completers (2022–23)

Completers with earnings data

426

used in DOE earnings test

Debt & financial aid

Median federal debt at graduation

$40,809

n=566

Loan recipients

409 (2024–25)
525 (2023–24)

Total loan volume

$6,016,523 (2024–25)
$7,539,568 (2023–24)

Student demographics (2018–19 enrollment)

Women

86.0%

Black / African American

43.0%

Hispanic

8.3%

White

40.7%

Enrollment and financial aid data are from the PPD:2026 source files. Demographics reflect 2018–19 program enrollees. Privacy-suppressed values are not shown.

Story angle tags

counseling adjacent

Reporting prompts

How many 6-digit programs sit inside CIP 4201 at this institution?
How does Ashford University map this CIP grouping to named majors?
Could similar-looking programs at peer institutions be coded differently?
What share of students in this program borrow? What is their typical debt load?
Do many completers pursue graduate school within four years?
Has the institution reviewed its own 6-digit program structure under the proposed rule?
How does the institution think this proposed rule would affect programs in this field?

Methodology

What PPD:2026 is: The Department of Education's Program Performance Data file, released as part of the 2026 rulemaking. It models program outcomes at the institution × credential × 4-digit CIP level.

Why modeled exposure is not a final result: These are modeled estimates from a single cohort snapshot. They cannot account for future appeals, teach-outs, institutional changes, or student behavior changes.

The 4-digit vs. 6-digit gap: The public file uses 4-digit CIP codes. The actual proposed rule would use 6-digit codes. About 83% of 4-digit CIPs contain only one 6-digit CIP, but the rest may contain many.

Institution-assigned CIP codes: Institutions assign CIP codes to their own programs. Similar majors at different colleges can be classified under different CIP codes, especially for interdisciplinary or area-studies programs.

Earnings measurement: Earnings are measured roughly four years after program completion, which may undercount lifetime earnings in fields with slower early-career income growth.

Benchmarks: Undergraduate programs are benchmarked against working adults aged 25–34 with only a high school diploma. Graduate programs use a more complex bachelor's-degree benchmark.

Plain-language summary (copy for notes)

DOE's public rulemaking file suggests the broad program grouping Psychology General. (CIP 4201, Master's) at Ashford University carries a Passes DOE model designation under the proposed earnings-accountability rule. This grouping is defined at the institution × credential × 4-digit CIP level, while the actual proposal would operate at the 6-digit CIP level. This should be treated as a reporting lead rather than a definitive regulatory finding.