Social Sciences, General programs
CIP 4501 · Social Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
94 institutions report graduate earnings for Social Sciences, General programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $52,562 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42× and 81% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 5 of the 97 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · Master's | $128,590 n=39 | 94% 1yr | $41,000 | 0.32× | Above +69% | — |
| 2 | Vanderbilt UniversityTN · Bachelor's | $103,229 n=107 | 97% 5yr | $12,250 | 0.12× | Above +195% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | New York UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $91,917 n=71 | 87% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.29× | Above +142% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | Harvard UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $78,996 n=73 | 83% 5yr | $22,750 | 0.29× | Above +82% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Manhattan UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $75,745 n=24 | 96% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.34× | Above +99% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's | $75,301 n=73 | 95% 5yr | $18,268 | 0.24× | Above +77% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | University of ChicagoIL · Master's | $74,690 n=104 | 92% 5yr | $43,505 | 0.58× | Above +9% | Below 1/2 |
| 8 | Campbell UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $71,052 n=25 | 81% 5yr | $20,375 | 0.29× | Above +107% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Towson UniversityMD · Bachelor's | $68,242 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +62% | — |
| 10 | Mercer UniversityGA · Master's | $67,767 n=21 | 85% 1yr | $34,167 | 0.50× | Above +7% | — |
| 11 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityPA · Master's | $65,444 n=48 | 80% 5yr | $26,214 | 0.40× | Above +2% | — |
| 12 | Whittier CollegeCA · Bachelor's | $64,736 n=17 | — | $24,937 | 0.39× | Above +68% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | University of Massachusetts GlobalCA · Bachelor's | $64,307 n=18 | 82% 5yr | $27,005 | 0.42× | Above +67% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | Thomas Edison State UniversityNJ · Bachelor's | $63,772 n=116 | 100% | $15,312 | 0.24× | Above +60% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | California State University-San MarcosCA · Bachelor's | $63,622 n=32 | 89% 5yr | $15,000 | 0.24× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Empire State UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $61,925 n=20 | — | $28,360 | 0.46× | Above +63% | — |
| 17 | Washington State UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $61,617 n=372 | 76% | $21,551 | 0.35× | Above +45% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Southern Oregon UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $61,526 n=24 | — | $23,012 | 0.37× | Above +68% | — |
| 19 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's | $59,883 n=24 | 70% 1yr | $25,438 | 0.42× | Above +59% | — |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA · Bachelor's | $59,883 n=24 | 70% 1yr | $25,438 | 0.42× | Above +59% | — |
| 21 | The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyTX · Bachelor's | $59,440 n=26 | 85% 5yr | $17,500 | 0.29× | Above +66% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | University of Maryland Global CampusMD · Bachelor's | $59,413 n=131 | 53% | $21,657 | 0.36× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 23 | St. Joseph's University-New YorkNY · Bachelor's | $59,028 n=28 | 82% 5yr | $21,375 | 0.36× | Above +55% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Touro UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $58,798 n=51 | 73% 5yr | $28,334 | 0.48× | Above +55% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $58,797 n=184 | 86% | $28,090 | 0.48× | Above +68% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | Central Washington UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $58,680 n=90 | 100% | $18,584 | 0.32× | Above +38% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Florida State UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $58,460 n=327 | 50% | $20,000 | 0.34× | Above +73% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Hope International UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $58,263 n=22 | — | $19,000 | 0.33× | Above +52% | — |
| 29 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityFL · Master's | $57,722 n=53 | 75% 5yr | $26,138 | 0.45× | Above +4% | Below 1/2 |
| 30 | University of UtahUT · Bachelor's | $57,708 n=47 | 76% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.37× | Above +45% | — |
| 31 | Troy UniversityAL · Bachelor's | $57,620 n=36 | 86% | $26,000 | 0.45× | Above +67% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | University of OregonOR · Bachelor's | $57,532 n=380 | 59% | $21,500 | 0.37× | Above +57% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | Upper Iowa UniversityIA · Bachelor's | $57,430 n=34 | 86% 1yr | $23,274 | 0.41× | Above +49% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | California State University-Monterey BayCA · Bachelor's | $57,200 n=96 | 49% | $11,000 | 0.19× | Above +49% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | Dominican University New YorkNY · Bachelor's | $56,966 n=93 | 41% | $25,000 | 0.44× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | California State University-SacramentoCA · Bachelor's | $56,363 n=44 | 82% 5yr | $16,097 | 0.29× | Above +47% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | Bellevue UniversityNE · Master's | $56,332 n=162 | 28% | $65,092 | 1.16× | Below -3% | Below 2/2 |
| 38 | University at BuffaloNY · Bachelor's | $56,257 n=376 | 63% | $19,000 | 0.34× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | University of North TexasTX · Bachelor's | $56,026 n=31 | 80% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.37× | Above +57% | Clears 2/2 |
| 40 | Grambling State UniversityLA · Master's | $55,999 n=25 | — | $55,234 | 0.99× | Below -3% | Below 2/2 |
| 41 | University of Nevada-Las VegasNV · Bachelor's | $55,542 n=19 | — | $17,213 | 0.31× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 42 | California State University-StanislausCA · Bachelor's | $55,109 n=70 | 90% 5yr | $14,752 | 0.27× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 43 | Mercy UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $55,052 n=100 | 50% | $22,699 | 0.41× | Above +45% | Below 1/2 |
| 44 | University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgPA · Bachelor's | $54,069 n=18 | — | $22,500 | 0.42× | Above +43% | Below 1/2 |
| 45 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownPA · Bachelor's | $54,069 n=18 | — | $22,500 | 0.42× | Above +43% | Below 1/2 |
| 46 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA · Bachelor's | $54,069 n=18 | — | $22,500 | 0.42× | Above +43% | Below 1/2 |
| 47 | Colorado State University GlobalCO · Bachelor's | $53,311 n=76 | 70% | $26,899 | 0.51× | Above +28% | Clears 2/2 |
| 48 | Bethel UniversityMN · Bachelor's | $52,907 n=18 | — | $25,000 | 0.47× | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
| 49 | Portland State UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $52,562 n=280 | 50% | $21,914 | 0.42× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 50 | Grand Valley State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $52,520 n=71 | 91% 5yr | $26,932 | 0.51× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 51 | Ohio University-Main CampusOH · Master's | $52,250 n=20 | 81% 1yr | $29,459 | 0.56× | Below -17% | — |
| 52 | San Diego State UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $52,095 n=79 | 59% 5yr | $20,081 | 0.39× | Above +36% | Below 1/2 |
| 53 | University of North DakotaND · Bachelor's | $52,063 n=29 | — | $24,098 | 0.46× | Above +27% | — |
| 54 | Western Oregon UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $51,921 n=37 | 83% 5yr | $23,000 | 0.44× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 55 | Troy UniversityAL · Master's | $51,841 n=16 | — | $56,375 | 1.09× | Below -10% | — |
| 56 | Tulane University of LouisianaLA · Bachelor's | $51,290 n=27 | 74% | $36,787 | 0.72× | Above +47% | Below 1/2 |
| 57 | Oregon State UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $51,005 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +39% | — |
| 58 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR · Bachelor's | $51,005 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +39% | — |
| 59 | California State University-ChicoCA · Bachelor's | $50,845 n=58 | 62% | $13,987 | 0.28× | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
| 60 | Kansas State UniversityKS · Bachelor's | $50,681 n=104 | 92% 5yr | $23,500 | 0.46× | Above +39% | Clears 2/2 |
| 61 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH · Bachelor's | $50,491 n=104 | 90% 5yr | $20,917 | 0.41× | Above +14% | Clears 2/2 |
| 62 | Radford UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $49,727 n=20 | 95% 5yr | $19,000 | 0.38× | Above +31% | Below 1/2 |
| 63 | Boise State UniversityID · Bachelor's | $49,683 n=40 | 100% | $23,900 | 0.48× | Above +40% | Clears 2/2 |
| 64 | Bellevue UniversityNE · Bachelor's | $49,304 n=154 | 36% | $25,000 | 0.51× | Above +33% | Clears 2/2 |
| 65 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWI · Bachelor's | $49,189 n=16 | — | $20,296 | 0.41× | Above +26% | — |
| 66 | Ashford UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $48,970 n=52 | 100% | $32,813 | 0.67× | Above +27% | Clears 2/2 |
| 67 | Jacksonville UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $48,761 n=24 | — | $25,821 | 0.53× | Above +44% | — |
| 68 | Bard CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $48,751 n=158 | 39% 1yr | $23,125 | 0.47× | Above +28% | — |
| 69 | Metropolitan State UniversityMN · Bachelor's | $48,486 n=20 | 88% 5yr | $16,125 | 0.33× | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 70 | University of South FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $47,969 n=145 | 77% | $20,500 | 0.43× | Above +42% | Clears 2/2 |
| 71 | University of West FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $47,535 n=42 | 100% | $21,500 | 0.45× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 72 | California State University-San BernardinoCA · Bachelor's | $47,348 n=25 | 79% 5yr | $19,445 | 0.41× | Above +23% | Clears 2/2 |
| 73 | University of BridgeportCT · Bachelor's | $47,108 n=18 | — | $26,598 | 0.56× | Above +12% | — |
| 74 | University of Wisconsin-StoutWI · Bachelor's | $47,074 n=29 | — | $24,375 | 0.52× | Above +21% | — |
| 75 | Southern Connecticut State UniversityCT · Bachelor's | $47,042 n=22 | 83% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.57× | Above +11% | Clears 2/2 |
| 76 | Texas A&M University-San AntonioTX · Bachelor's | $47,014 n=141 | 58% 1yr | $17,750 | 0.38× | Above +31% | — |
| 77 | University of Central FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $46,388 n=22 | 61% 1yr | $21,857 | 0.47× | Above +37% | — |
| 78 | University of South Carolina BeaufortSC · Bachelor's | $44,888 n=46 | 84% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.58× | Above +30% | Below 1/2 |
| 79 | Chowan UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $44,793 n=25 | — | $24,387 | 0.54× | Above +31% | Below 1/2 |
| 80 | Charleston Southern UniversitySC · Bachelor's | $44,416 n=28 | — | $24,700 | 0.56× | Above +29% | Below 1/2 |
| 81 | North Carolina Central UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $43,859 n=102 | 56% 1yr | $27,000 | 0.62× | Above +28% | — |
| 82 | Shawnee State UniversityOH · Bachelor's | $43,723 n=18 | — | $26,450 | 0.60× | Above +19% | Below 1/2 |
| 83 | West Liberty UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $43,532 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +24% | — |
| 84 | University of WyomingWY · Bachelor's | $43,404 n=46 | 74% 5yr | $16,427 | 0.38× | Above +8% | Below 1/2 |
| 85 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $42,761 n=27 | — | $23,323 | 0.55× | Above +20% | — |
| 86 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $42,582 n=55 | 58% 1yr | $20,500 | 0.48× | Above +13% | — |
| 87 | University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Bachelor's | $42,038 n=27 | 77% 5yr | $18,000 | 0.43× | Above +9% | Clears 2/2 |
| 88 | Adelphi UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $41,924 n=17 | 95% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.60× | Above +10% | Clears 2/2 |
| 89 | Liberty UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $41,811 n=19 | 94% 5yr | $25,125 | 0.60× | Above +10% | Clears 2/2 |
| 90 | University of Hawaii-West OahuHI · Bachelor's | $41,536 n=109 | 54% | $15,610 | 0.38× | Above +2% | Below 1/2 |
| 91 | Bluefield State UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $40,355 n=23 | — | $34,200 | 0.85× | Above +15% | — |
| 92 | Allen UniversitySC · Bachelor's | $38,198 n=53 | 87% | $33,597 | 0.88× | Above +11% | Below 1/2 |
| 93 | Rogers State UniversityOK · Bachelor's | $36,888 n=29 | 63% 1yr | $20,135 | 0.55× | Above +4% | Clears 2/2 |
| 94 | Belhaven UniversityMS · Bachelor's | $33,423 n=35 | 91% | $38,569 | 1.15× | Above +1% | Clears 2/2 |
| 95 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPR · Bachelor's | $32,433 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +97% | — |
| 96 | University of Michigan-DearbornMI · Bachelor's | $31,967 n=22 | 88% 5yr | $29,000 | 0.91× | Below -9% | Below 1/2 |
| 97 | University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezPR · Bachelor's | $20,952 n=35 | 46% 5yr | $7,889 | 0.38× | Above +27% | Clears 2/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $68,242 | 3 |
| Washington | $61,617 | 3 |
| New York | $57,882 | 10 |
| Texas | $56,026 | 3 |
| California | $55,736 | 12 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,069 | 7 |
| Michigan | $52,520 | 3 |
| Oregon | $52,242 | 6 |
| Florida | $48,365 | 6 |
| North Carolina | $44,793 | 3 |
| South Carolina | $44,416 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Social Sciences, General programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Social Sciences, General programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Social Sciences, General programs in this dataset are Johns Hopkins University ($128,590), Vanderbilt University ($103,229), New York University ($91,917). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Social Sciences, General programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 5 of the 97 Social Sciences, General programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.