Social Sciences, General: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$57,722 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$57,722Median year-4 earnings
$18,337Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$57,722Median reported earnings · year 4
$52,981Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
9thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
9With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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$55,999National median$57,72275th percentile$67,767
9 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
9 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Johns Hopkins University$128,5902University of Chicago$74,6903Mercer University$67,7674Pennsylvania Western University$65,4445Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University$57,7226Bellevue University$56,3327Grambling State University$55,9998Ohio University-Main Campus$52,2509Troy University$51,841Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →13%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Managers, All Other$141,900 median wage622,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9199+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 100.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$74,300–$238,270 10th–90th percentileSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$101,110 median wage37,100 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3099-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$66,120–$160,300 10th–90th percentileSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$72,990 median wage16,580 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1069+1.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$40,670–$164,420 10th–90th percentileSociologists$106,030 median wage2,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3041+3.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$65,160–$172,550 10th–90th percentileStatisticians$105,650 median wage29,030 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-2041+11.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$64,000–$174,050 10th–90th percentileSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040 median wage1,065,210 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2031-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 63.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,780–$107,600 10th–90th percentileSocial Science Research Assistants$61,990 median wage30,640 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4061+5.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$38,090–$102,070 10th–90th percentileSociology Teachers, Postsecondary$84,290 median wage11,850 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1067+2.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$49,930–$160,140 10th–90th percentileSurvey Researchers$69,460 median wage8,290 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3022-4.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$39,260–$130,860 10th–90th percentileMiddle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370 median wage620,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2022-0.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 38.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,080–$102,540 10th–90th percentileElementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970 median wage1,388,390 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2021-0.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 87.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$47,960–$104,340 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $128,590 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 2 | University of ChicagoMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $74,690 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,860 |
| 3 | Mercer UniversityMaster's Degree | Macon, GA | $67,767 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,847 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityMaster's Degree | California, PA | $65,444 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,256 |
| 5 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityMaster's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $57,722 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,739 |
| 6 | Bellevue UniversityMaster's Degree | Bellevue, NE | $56,332 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,550 |
| 7 | Grambling State UniversityMaster's Degree | Grambling, LA | $55,999 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,809 |
| 8 | Ohio University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Athens, OH | $52,250 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,637 |
| 9 | Troy UniversityMaster's Degree | Troy, AL | $51,841 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,527 |
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.