Social Sciences, General: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 95 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$184,314 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
36.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−72%Modeled 10-year ROI
$52,095Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$52,095Median reported earnings · year 4
$52,821Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,805Median federal debt
28thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
95Reporting programs
89With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $44,267
- Federal debt
- $9,314
- Reporting programs
- 38
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,095
- Federal debt
- $25,805
- Reporting programs
- 95
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,722
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$47,042National median$52,09575th percentile$58,460
89 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Vanderbilt University$103,2292New York University$91,9173Harvard University$78,9964Manhattan University$75,7455University of Washington-Seattle Campus$75,3016Campbell University$71,0527Towson University$68,2428Whittier College$64,7369University of Massachusetts Global$64,30710Thomas Edison State University$63,772Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 4 crosswalk linksSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All OtherSOC 25-1069 · 4 crosswalk linksSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 19-3099 · 4 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 2 crosswalk linksSocial Science Research AssistantsSOC 19-4061 · 2 crosswalk linksSociologistsSOC 19-3041 · 2 crosswalk linksStatisticiansSOC 15-2041 · 2 crosswalk linksElementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationSOC 25-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksMiddle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2022 · 1 crosswalk linksSociology Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1067 · 1 crosswalk linksSurvey ResearchersSOC 19-3022 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $103,229 | $11,000 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $91,917 | $27,000 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Harvard UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $78,996 | $19,937 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Manhattan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverdale, NY | $75,745 | $26,080 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $75,301 | $20,559 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Campbell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buies Creek, NC | $71,052 | Not available | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | $68,242 | $20,000 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Whittier CollegeBachelor's Degree | Whittier, CA | $64,736 | $24,937 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts GlobalBachelor's Degree | Aliso Viejo, CA | $64,307 | Not available | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Thomas Edison State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Trenton, NJ | $63,772 | $21,384 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 11 | California State University, San MarcosBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, CA | $63,622 | $18,719 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Empire State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $61,925 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $61,617 | $25,409 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Southern Oregon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ashland, OR | $61,526 | $27,167 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $59,883 | $29,500 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $59,883 | $29,500 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyBachelor's Degree | Edinburg, TX | $59,440 | $20,238 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of Maryland Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Adelphi, MD | $59,413 | $23,599 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | St. Joseph's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $59,028 | $24,500 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Touro UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $58,798 | $33,937 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $58,797 | $29,198 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Central Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $58,680 | $26,181 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $58,460 | $23,375 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Hope International UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $58,263 | Not available | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $57,708 | $22,442 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Troy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Troy, AL | $57,620 | $28,125 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $57,532 | $22,917 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Upper Iowa UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fayette, IA | $57,430 | $25,805 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | California State University, Monterey BayBachelor's Degree | Seaside, CA | $57,200 | $11,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Dominican University New YorkBachelor's Degree | Orangeburg, NY | $56,966 | $27,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $56,363 | $16,194 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | University at BuffaloBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $56,257 | $21,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $56,026 | $22,625 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $55,542 | Not available | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | California State University, StanislausBachelor's Degree | Turlock, CA | $55,109 | $15,446 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Mercy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dobbs Ferry, NY | $55,052 | $26,978 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | University of Alaska SoutheastBachelor's Degree | Juneau, AK | $54,226 | Not available | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgBachelor's Degree | Greensburg, PA | $54,069 | $27,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownBachelor's Degree | Johnstown, PA | $54,069 | $27,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $54,069 | $27,000 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Colorado State University GlobalBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $53,311 | $37,770 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Bethel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $52,907 | Not available | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $52,562 | $31,000 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $52,520 | $27,400 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $52,095 | $20,915 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | University of North DakotaBachelor's Degree | Grand Forks, ND | $52,063 | $27,431 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Western Oregon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Monmouth, OR | $51,921 | $25,000 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Tulane University of LouisianaBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $51,290 | $47,000 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $51,005 | Not available | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $51,005 | Not available | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $50,845 | $16,500 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $50,681 | $27,500 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $50,491 | $35,354 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Radford UniversityBachelor's Degree | Radford, VA | $49,727 | $25,000 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Boise State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boise, ID | $49,683 | $25,000 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Bellevue UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellevue, NE | $49,304 | $34,734 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointBachelor's Degree | Stevens Point, WI | $49,189 | Not available | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | The University of Arizona Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Chandler, AZ | $48,970 | $41,281 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Jacksonville UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $48,761 | $31,000 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Bard CollegeBachelor's Degree | Annandale-On-Hudson, NY | $48,751 | $24,747 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Metropolitan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $48,486 | $31,000 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $47,969 | $24,095 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | University of West FloridaBachelor's Degree | Pensacola, FL | $47,535 | $22,916 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | California State University, San BernardinoBachelor's Degree | San Bernardino, CA | $47,348 | Not available | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | University of BridgeportBachelor's Degree | Bridgeport, CT | $47,108 | Not available | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $47,074 | $24,750 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Southern Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Haven, CT | $47,042 | Not available | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Texas A&M University-San AntonioBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $47,014 | $18,457 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $46,388 | $26,800 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of South Carolina BeaufortBachelor's Degree | Bluffton, SC | $44,888 | $37,500 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Chowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murfreesboro, NC | $44,793 | $29,030 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Charleston Southern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Charleston, SC | $44,416 | $26,955 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | North Carolina Central UniversityBachelor's Degree | Durham, NC | $43,859 | $34,562 | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Shawnee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portsmouth, OH | $43,723 | Not available | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | West Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | West Liberty, WV | $43,532 | Not available | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | University of WyomingBachelor's Degree | Laramie, WY | $43,404 | $21,246 | -107% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cape Girardeau, MO | $42,761 | $34,390 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityBachelor's Degree | California, PA | $42,582 | $30,887 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $42,038 | Not available | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Adelphi UniversityBachelor's Degree | Garden City, NY | $41,924 | $26,593 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $41,811 | $23,250 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | University of Hawaii-West OahuBachelor's Degree | Kapolei, HI | $41,536 | $19,889 | -116% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Bluefield State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bluefield, WV | $40,355 | Not available | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Allen UniversityBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $38,198 | $38,198 | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Rogers State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Claremore, OK | $36,888 | $23,573 | -134% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Belhaven UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jackson, MS | $33,423 | $46,098 | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $32,433 | Not available | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | University of Michigan-DearbornBachelor's Degree | Dearborn, MI | $31,967 | $38,850 | -160% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezBachelor's Degree | Mayaguez, PR | $20,952 | $8,900 | -196% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | Not available | $16,338 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,251 |
| 91 | Mercer UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macon, GA | Not available | $47,010 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $23,847 |
| 92 | Ramapo College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Mahwah, NJ | Not available | $25,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,173 |
| 93 | Robert Morris UniversityBachelor's Degree | Moon Township, PA | Not available | $26,972 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $23,003 |
| 94 | University of Sioux FallsBachelor's Degree | Sioux Falls, SD | Not available | $25,028 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $21,383 |
| 95 | University of Houston-DowntownBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | Not available | $20,429 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $10,542 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.