Social Sciences, Other programs
CIP 4599 · Social Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
40 institutions report graduate earnings for Social Sciences, Other programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $56,994 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44× and 87% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 5 of the 44 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 | University of California-BerkeleyCA · Bachelor's | $101,138 n=153 | 80% | $15,000 | 0.15× | Above +163% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · Master's | $87,609 n=30 | 91% 5yr | $73,259 | 0.84× | Above +23% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Master's | $82,105 n=22 | — | $51,000 | 0.62× | Above +9% | — |
| 4 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $80,700 n=43 | 89% 5yr | $24,788 | 0.31× | Above +102% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | New York UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $74,983 n=54 | 62% 1yr | $20,500 | 0.27× | Above +97% | — |
| 6 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNY · Master's | $74,962 n=26 | 94% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.27× | Above +6% | — |
| 7 | Capella UniversityMN · Doctoral | $73,080 n=38 | 85% 1yr | $139,251 | 1.91× | Above +7% | — |
| 8 | Coppin State UniversityMD · Master's | $72,178 n=28 | 88% 1yr | $47,114 | 0.65× | Below -5% | — |
| 9 | Empire State UniversityNY · Master's | $71,200 n=26 | — | — | — | Above +0% | — |
| 10 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNY · Bachelor's | $69,996 n=23 | 96% 1yr | — | — | Above +84% | — |
| 11 | University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's | $68,535 n=38 | 87% 5yr | $12,580 | 0.18× | Above +78% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | University of RochesterNY · Bachelor's | $68,333 n=27 | 83% 5yr | $21,366 | 0.31× | Above +80% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | Columbus State UniversityGA · Master's | $67,595 n=31 | 84% 5yr | $30,794 | 0.46× | Above +7% | Below 1/2 |
| 14 | Loyola University MarylandMD · Bachelor's | $67,373 n=40 | 89% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.40× | Above +60% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | University of Rhode IslandRI · Bachelor's | $66,738 n=81 | 78% | $22,615 | 0.34× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · Bachelor's | $65,085 n=42 | 90% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.38× | Above +71% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | Azusa Pacific UniversityCA · Master's | $63,771 n=92 | 87% 5yr | $37,557 | 0.59× | Below -15% | Below 2/2 |
| 18 | Towson UniversityMD · Bachelor's | $62,559 n=268 | 77% | $16,750 | 0.27× | Above +49% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Clark UniversityMA · Master's | $62,304 n=25 | 77% 5yr | $41,000 | 0.66× | Below -18% | Below 2/2 |
| 20 | St Lawrence UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $60,518 n=41 | 85% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.45× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | Kalamazoo CollegeMI · Bachelor's | $59,193 n=28 | 89% 5yr | $24,821 | 0.42× | Above +69% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's | $57,360 n=31 | — | $16,000 | 0.28× | Above +49% | Clears 2/2 |
| 23 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's | $56,628 n=48 | 100% | $11,734 | 0.21× | Above +33% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusWA · Bachelor's | $56,628 n=48 | 100% | $11,734 | 0.21× | Above +33% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | SUNY Old WestburyNY · Bachelor's | $56,609 n=92 | 87% 5yr | $18,000 | 0.32× | Above +49% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | University of California-RiversideCA · Bachelor's | $55,087 n=25 | 92% 5yr | $16,583 | 0.30× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Central Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $54,888 n=99 | 94% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.49× | Above +57% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Russell Sage CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $54,363 n=34 | 81% 5yr | $21,000 | 0.39× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNY · Bachelor's | $54,259 n=25 | 88% 5yr | $7,000 | 0.13× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | Millersville University of PennsylvaniaPA · Bachelor's | $54,086 n=17 | 91% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.50× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Lake Forest CollegeIL · Bachelor's | $53,438 n=35 | 67% 1yr | $26,500 | 0.50× | Above +42% | — |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin-Green BayWI · Bachelor's | $50,738 n=27 | 84% 5yr | $22,625 | 0.45× | Above +30% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | Capella UniversityMN · Master's | $50,531 n=146 | 100% | $48,012 | 0.95× | Below -26% | Below 2/2 |
| 34 | Benedictine UniversityIL · Bachelor's | $50,054 n=16 | — | $27,470 | 0.55× | Above +33% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | Eastern Oregon UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $49,611 n=21 | 57% 5yr | $21,583 | 0.43× | Above +35% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | University of Alabama at BirminghamAL · Bachelor's | $47,004 n=20 | 84% 5yr | $12,673 | 0.27× | Above +36% | — |
| 37 | SUNY Polytechnic InstituteNY · Bachelor's | $46,521 n=16 | 92% 5yr | $20,285 | 0.44× | Above +22% | Clears 2/2 |
| 38 | Keystone CollegePA · Bachelor's | $46,452 n=23 | 80% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.58× | Above +23% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | Clark UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $45,710 n=30 | 78% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.55× | Above +5% | Clears 2/2 |
| 40 | University of Southern MaineME · Bachelor's | $45,523 n=71 | 73% 5yr | $17,218 | 0.38× | Above +25% | Below 1/2 |
| 41 | University of Pittsburgh-BradfordPA · Bachelor's | $44,520 n=19 | 87% 5yr | $26,300 | 0.59× | Above +18% | Clears 2/2 |
| 42 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA · Bachelor's | $44,520 n=19 | 87% 5yr | $26,300 | 0.59× | Above +18% | Clears 2/2 |
| 43 | The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaTN · Bachelor's | $43,858 n=34 | 73% 5yr | $20,000 | 0.46× | Above +25% | Below 1/2 |
| 44 | SUNY at Purchase CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $36,895 n=22 | — | $20,500 | 0.56× | Below -3% | — |
% > 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 | $67,373 | 3 |
| California | $66,153 | 6 |
| New York | $65,085 | 13 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,486 | 4 |
States with at least 3 reporting Social Sciences, Other programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Social Sciences, Other programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Social Sciences, Other programs in this dataset are University of California-Berkeley ($101,138), Columbia University in the City of New York ($87,609), University of California-Los Angeles ($82,105). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Social Sciences, Other programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 5 of the 44 Social Sciences, Other 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.