Social Sciences, General

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)
$39,761
Median Earnings
$52,063
Schools Offering
92
ROI Grade
C+

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $47,014Median: $52,06375th: $58,460

Best Schools for Social Sciences, General by Earnings

#School4yr Earnings
1Vanderbilt University
TN · Private
$103,229
2New York University
NY · Private
$91,917
3Harvard University
MA · Private
$78,996
4Manhattan University
NY · Private
$75,745
5University of Washington-Seattle Campus
WA · Public
$75,301
6Campbell University
NC · Private
$71,052
7Towson University
MD · Public
$68,242
8Whittier College
CA · Private
$64,736
9University of Massachusetts Global
CA · Public
$64,307
10California State University-San Marcos
CA · Public
$63,622
11Empire State University
NY · Public
$61,925
12Washington State University
WA · Public
$61,617
13Southern Oregon University
OR · Public
$61,526
14Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
PA · Public
$59,883
15Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
PA · Public
$59,883
16The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
TX · Public
$59,440
17University of Maryland Global Campus
MD · Public
$59,413
18St. Joseph's University-New York
NY · Private
$59,028
19Touro University
NY · Private
$58,798
20Michigan State University
MI · Public
$58,797
21Central Washington University
WA · Public
$58,680
22Florida State University
FL · Public
$58,460
23Hope International University
CA · Private
$58,263
24University of Utah
UT · Public
$57,708
25Troy University
AL · Public
$57,620
26University of Oregon
OR · Public
$57,532
27Upper Iowa University
IA · Private
$57,430
28California State University-Monterey Bay
CA · Public
$57,200
29Dominican University New York
NY · Private
$56,966
30California State University-Sacramento
CA · Public
$56,363
31University at Buffalo
NY · Public
$56,257
32University of North Texas
TX · Public
$56,026
33University of Nevada-Las Vegas
NV · Public
$55,542
34California State University-Stanislaus
CA · Public
$55,109
35Mercy University
NY · Private
$55,052
36University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
PA · Public
$54,069
37University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
PA · Public
$54,069
38University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
PA · Public
$54,069
39Bethel University
MN · Private
$52,907
40Portland State University
OR · Public
$52,562
41Grand Valley State University
MI · Public
$52,520
42San Diego State University
CA · Public
$52,095
43University of North Dakota
ND · Public
$52,063
44Western Oregon University
OR · Public
$51,921
45Tulane University of Louisiana
LA · Private
$51,290
46Oregon State University
OR · Public
$51,005
47Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
OR · Public
$51,005
48California State University-Chico
CA · Public
$50,845
49Kansas State University
KS · Public
$50,681
50Southern New Hampshire University
NH · Private
$50,491
Below Average Value

Is Social Sciences, General Worth It?

Proceed With a Plan

The financial returns for Social Sciences, General are below average. At $39,761 in average earnings four years out, graduates often face a long payback period, especially at higher-cost institutions. This doesn't mean the field is worthless - it means the financial math demands careful attention to school cost and debt levels.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 92 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.

The top school for this major by earnings is University of Massachusetts Global, where graduates earn $64,307 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.