Social Sciences, General programs

CIP 4501 · Social Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion

133 institutions report graduate earnings for Social Sciences, General programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $50,246 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42× and 76% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 10 of the 136 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.

National ranking

#	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	83% 5yr	$21,375	0.36×	Above +55%	Clears 2/2
24	Ohlone CollegeCA · Associate	$58,928 n=76	–	–	–	Above +53%	–
25	Touro UniversityNY · Bachelor's	$58,798 n=51	73% 5yr	$28,334	0.48×	Above +55%	Clears 2/2
26	Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's	$58,797 n=184	86%	$28,090	0.48×	Above +68%	Clears 2/2
27	Central Washington UniversityWA · Bachelor's	$58,680 n=90	100%	$18,584	0.32×	Above +38%	Clears 2/2
28	Florida State UniversityFL · Bachelor's	$58,460 n=327	51%	$20,000	0.34×	Above +73%	Clears 2/2
29	Hope International UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$58,263 n=22	–	$19,000	0.33×	Above +52%	–
30	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityFL · Master's	$57,722 n=53	75% 5yr	$26,138	0.45×	Above +4%	Below 1/2
31	University of UtahUT · Bachelor's	$57,708 n=47	76% 5yr	$21,500	0.37×	Above +45%	–
32	Troy UniversityAL · Bachelor's	$57,620 n=36	86%	$26,000	0.45×	Above +67%	Clears 2/2
33	University of OregonOR · Bachelor's	$57,532 n=380	59%	$21,500	0.37×	Above +57%	Clears 2/2
34	Upper Iowa UniversityIA · Bachelor's	$57,430 n=34	86% 1yr	$23,274	0.41×	Above +49%	Clears 2/2
35	California State University-Monterey BayCA · Bachelor's	$57,200 n=96	49%	$11,000	0.19×	Above +49%	Clears 2/2
36	Dominican University New YorkNY · Bachelor's	$56,966 n=93	41%	$25,000	0.44×	Above +50%	Clears 2/2
37	California State University-SacramentoCA · Bachelor's	$56,363 n=44	82% 5yr	$16,097	0.29×	Above +47%	Clears 2/2
38	Bellevue UniversityNE · Master's	$56,332 n=162	28%	$65,092	1.16×	Below -3%	Below 2/2
39	City College of San FranciscoCA · Associate	$56,257 n=17	–	–	–	Above +46%	–
40	University at BuffaloNY · Bachelor's	$56,257 n=376	63%	$19,000	0.34×	Above +48%	Clears 2/2
41	University of North TexasTX · Bachelor's	$56,026 n=31	80% 5yr	$20,500	0.37×	Above +57%	Clears 2/2
42	Grambling State UniversityLA · Master's	$55,999 n=25	–	$55,234	0.99×	Below -3%	Below 2/2
43	University of Nevada-Las VegasNV · Bachelor's	$55,542 n=19	–	$17,213	0.31×	Above +48%	Clears 2/2
44	Roxbury Community CollegeMA · Associate	$55,329 n=17	–	–	–	Above +27%	Below 1/2
45	California State University-StanislausCA · Bachelor's	$55,109 n=70	91% 5yr	$14,752	0.27×	Above +43%	Clears 2/2
46	Mercy UniversityNY · Bachelor's	$55,052 n=100	50%	$22,699	0.41×	Above +45%	Below 1/2
47	University of Alaska SoutheastAK · Bachelor's	$54,226 n=18	–	$15,000	0.28×	Above +31%	–
48	University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgPA · Bachelor's	$54,069 n=18	–	$22,500	0.42×	Above +43%	Below 1/2
49	University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownPA · Bachelor's	$54,069 n=18	–	$22,500	0.42×	Above +43%	Below 1/2
50	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA · Bachelor's	$54,069 n=18	–	$22,500	0.42×	Above +43%	Below 1/2
51	Colorado State University GlobalCO · Bachelor's	$53,311 n=76	70%	$26,899	0.51×	Above +28%	Clears 2/2
52	Bethel UniversityMN · Bachelor's	$52,907 n=18	–	$25,000	0.47×	Above +32%	Clears 2/2
53	College of San MateoCA · Associate	$52,619 n=32	85% 5yr	–	–	Above +37%	Clears 2/2
54	Portland State UniversityOR · Bachelor's	$52,562 n=280	50%	$21,914	0.42×	Above +43%	Clears 2/2
55	Grand Valley State UniversityMI · Bachelor's	$52,520 n=71	91% 5yr	$26,932	0.51×	Above +50%	Clears 2/2
56	Ohio University-Main CampusOH · Master's	$52,250 n=20	81% 1yr	$29,459	0.56×	Below -17%	–
57	San Diego State UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$52,095 n=79	59% 5yr	$20,081	0.39×	Above +36%	Below 1/2
58	University of North DakotaND · Bachelor's	$52,063 n=29	–	$24,098	0.46×	Above +27%	–
59	Western Oregon UniversityOR · Bachelor's	$51,921 n=37	83% 5yr	$23,000	0.44×	Above +41%	Clears 2/2
60	Troy UniversityAL · Master's	$51,841 n=16	–	$56,375	1.09×	Below -10%	–
61	De Anza CollegeCA · Associate	$51,460 n=50	–	–	–	Above +34%	–
62	Tulane University of LouisianaLA · Bachelor's	$51,290 n=27	74%	$36,787	0.72×	Above +47%	Below 1/2
63	Woodland Community CollegeCA · Associate	$51,051 n=30	–	–	–	Above +33%	–
64	Oregon State UniversityOR · Bachelor's	$51,005 n=18	–	–	–	Above +39%	–
65	Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR · Bachelor's	$51,005 n=18	–	–	–	Above +39%	–
66	California State University-ChicoCA · Bachelor's	$50,845 n=58	62%	$13,987	0.28×	Above +32%	Clears 2/2
67	Kansas State UniversityKS · Bachelor's	$50,681 n=104	93% 5yr	$23,500	0.46×	Above +39%	Clears 2/2
68	Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH · Bachelor's	$50,491 n=104	90% 5yr	$20,917	0.41×	Above +14%	Clears 2/2
69	Merritt CollegeCA · Associate	$50,001 n=21	–	–	–	Above +30%	Clears 2/2
70	Radford UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$49,727 n=20	95% 5yr	$19,000	0.38×	Above +31%	Below 1/2
71	Boise State UniversityID · Bachelor's	$49,683 n=40	100%	$23,900	0.48×	Above +40%	Clears 2/2
72	Bellevue UniversityNE · Bachelor's	$49,304 n=154	36%	$25,000	0.51×	Above +33%	Clears 2/2
73	University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWI · Bachelor's	$49,189 n=16	–	$20,296	0.41×	Above +26%	–
74	Ashford UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$48,970 n=52	100%	$32,813	0.67×	Above +27%	Clears 2/2
75	Jacksonville UniversityFL · Bachelor's	$48,761 n=24	–	$25,821	0.53×	Above +44%	–
76	Bard CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$48,751 n=158	39% 1yr	$23,125	0.47×	Above +28%	–
77	Pasadena City CollegeCA · Associate	$48,709 n=41	–	–	–	Above +27%	–
78	Metropolitan State UniversityMN · Bachelor's	$48,486 n=20	89% 5yr	$16,125	0.33×	Above +21%	Clears 2/2
79	Northern Virginia Community CollegeVA · Associate	$48,344 n=318	45%	$9,750	0.20×	Above +27%	Below 1/2
80	University of South FloridaFL · Bachelor's	$47,969 n=145	77%	$20,500	0.43×	Above +42%	Clears 2/2
81	American River CollegeCA · Associate	$47,731 n=24	100%	–	–	Above +24%	Clears 2/2
82	East Los Angeles CollegeCA · Associate	$47,624 n=87	30%	–	–	Above +24%	Below 1/2
83	University of West FloridaFL · Bachelor's	$47,535 n=42	100%	$21,500	0.45×	Above +41%	Clears 2/2
84	California State University-San BernardinoCA · Bachelor's	$47,348 n=25	79% 5yr	$19,445	0.41×	Above +23%	Clears 2/2
85	University of BridgeportCT · Bachelor's	$47,108 n=18	–	$26,598	0.56×	Above +12%	–
86	University of Wisconsin-StoutWI · Bachelor's	$47,074 n=29	–	$24,375	0.52×	Above +21%	–
87	Southern Connecticut State UniversityCT · Bachelor's	$47,042 n=22	83% 5yr	$27,000	0.57×	Above +11%	Clears 2/2
88	Texas A&M University-San AntonioTX · Bachelor's	$47,014 n=141	58% 1yr	$17,750	0.38×	Above +31%	–
89	Santa Rosa Junior CollegeCA · Associate	$46,768 n=41	73%	–	–	Above +22%	Clears 2/2
90	Harrisburg Area Community CollegePA · Associate	$46,654 n=65	57%	$21,405	0.46×	Above +24%	Below 1/2
91	San Diego Miramar CollegeCA · Associate	$46,564 n=29	–	–	–	Above +21%	–
92	University of Central FloridaFL · Bachelor's	$46,388 n=22	61% 1yr	$21,857	0.47×	Above +37%	–
93	Arizona Western CollegeAZ · Associate	$45,617 n=42	77% 5yr	–	–	Above +24%	Clears 2/2
94	Sierra CollegeCA · Associate	$45,195 n=28	–	–	–	Above +18%	–
95	University of South Carolina BeaufortSC · Bachelor's	$44,888 n=46	84% 5yr	$26,000	0.58×	Above +30%	Below 1/2
96	Chowan UniversityNC · Bachelor's	$44,793 n=25	–	$24,387	0.54×	Above +31%	Below 1/2
97	Crafton Hills CollegeCA · Associate	$44,769 n=16	100%	–	–	Above +16%	Below 1/2
98	J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeVA · Associate	$44,435 n=129	43%	$12,813	0.29×	Above +17%	Below 1/2
99	Charleston Southern UniversitySC · Bachelor's	$44,416 n=28	–	$24,700	0.56×	Above +29%	Below 1/2
100	Brookdale Community CollegeNJ · Associate	$44,277 n=275	27%	$11,000	0.25×	Above +11%	Below 1/2
101	Mt San Antonio CollegeCA · Associate	$44,256 n=27	61% 5yr	–	–	Above +15%	Below 1/2
102	Essex County CollegeNJ · Associate	$44,106 n=129	38%	–	–	Above +11%	Below 1/2
103	Yuba CollegeCA · Associate	$43,965 n=53	64%	–	–	Above +14%	Below 1/2
104	North Carolina Central UniversityNC · Bachelor's	$43,859 n=102	56% 1yr	$27,000	0.62×	Above +28%	–
105	Shawnee State UniversityOH · Bachelor's	$43,723 n=18	–	$26,450	0.60×	Above +19%	Below 1/2
106	West Liberty UniversityWV · Bachelor's	$43,532 n=16	–	–	–	Above +24%	–
107	University of WyomingWY · Bachelor's	$43,404 n=46	74% 5yr	$16,427	0.38×	Above +8%	Below 1/2
108	Massasoit Community CollegeMA · Associate	$43,185 n=31	–	$12,140	0.28×	Below -1%	–
109	Southeast Missouri State UniversityMO · Bachelor's	$42,761 n=27	–	$23,323	0.55×	Above +20%	–
110	Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeVA · Associate	$42,697 n=146	56%	$10,500	0.25×	Above +12%	Below 1/2
111	Los Angeles Valley CollegeCA · Associate	$42,610 n=43	–	–	–	Above +11%	–
112	Pennsylvania Western UniversityPA · Bachelor's	$42,582 n=55	58% 1yr	$20,500	0.48×	Above +13%	–
113	Long Beach City CollegeCA · Associate	$42,308 n=16	–	–	–	Above +10%	–
114	Fresno City CollegeCA · Associate	$42,228 n=18	–	–	–	Above +10%	Below 1/2
115	University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Bachelor's	$42,038 n=27	77% 5yr	$18,000	0.43×	Above +9%	Clears 2/2
116	Adelphi UniversityNY · Bachelor's	$41,924 n=17	95% 5yr	$25,000	0.60×	Above +10%	Clears 2/2
117	Liberty UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$41,811 n=19	94% 5yr	$25,125	0.60×	Above +10%	Clears 2/2
118	University of Hawaii-West OahuHI · Bachelor's	$41,536 n=109	54%	$15,610	0.38×	Above +2%	Below 1/2
119	Tidewater Community CollegeVA · Associate	$41,334 n=523	42%	$9,163	0.22×	Above +9%	Below 1/2
120	Merced CollegeCA · Associate	$41,246 n=72	35%	–	–	Above +7%	Below 1/2
121	Butte CollegeCA · Associate	$40,543 n=354	8%	$7,500	0.18×	Above +5%	Clears 2/2
122	Bluefield State UniversityWV · Bachelor's	$40,355 n=23	–	$34,200	0.85×	Above +15%	–
123	Tulsa Community CollegeOK · Associate	$39,945 n=115	47%	$11,838	0.30×	Above +13%	Below 1/2
124	Shasta CollegeCA · Associate	$39,704 n=23	–	–	–	Above +3%	–
125	Frederick Community CollegeMD · Associate	$38,977 n=31	–	$6,775	0.17×	Below -7%	–
126	Antelope Valley Community College DistrictCA · Associate	$38,575 n=132	19%	$14,000	0.36×	Above +0%	Below 1/2
127	Virginia Western Community CollegeVA · Associate	$38,545 n=68	37%	$9,346	0.24×	Above +1%	Below 1/2
128	Allen UniversitySC · Bachelor's	$38,198 n=53	87%	$33,597	0.88×	Above +11%	Below 1/2
129	Rogers State UniversityOK · Bachelor's	$36,888 n=29	63% 1yr	$20,135	0.55×	Above +4%	Clears 2/2
130	Mt San Jacinto Community College DistrictCA · Associate	$36,114 n=65	–	–	–	Below -6%	–
131	Belhaven UniversityMS · Bachelor's	$33,423 n=35	91%	$38,569	1.15×	Above +1%	Clears 2/2
132	University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPR · Bachelor's	$32,433 n=18	–	–	–	Above +97%	–
133	University of Michigan-DearbornMI · Bachelor's	$31,967 n=22	89% 5yr	$29,000	0.91×	Below -9%	Below 1/2
134	Laney CollegeCA · Associate	$30,022 n=24	72% 5yr	–	–	Below -22%	Below 1/2
135	Barstow Community CollegeCA · Associate	$29,470 n=69	–	–	–	Below -23%	Below 2/2
136	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.

By state, median earnings, 4 yrs out

State	Median earn 4yr	Programs
Maryland	$63,828	4
Washington	$61,617	3
New York	$57,882	10
Texas	$56,026	3
Massachusetts	$55,329	3
Pennsylvania	$54,069	8
Michigan	$52,520	3
Oregon	$52,242	6
Florida	$48,365	6
California	$47,624	37
North Carolina	$44,793	3
South Carolina	$44,416	3
New Jersey	$44,277	3
Virginia	$42,697	7

States with at least 3 reporting Social Sciences, General programs, by median graduate earnings.

Frequently asked

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, 10 of the 136 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.