Social Sciences, Other: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$71,200 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.
$71,200Median year-4 earnings
$17,224Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Social Sciences, Other
How much do Social Sciences, Other master's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $71,200 four years after completion across reportable master's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Social Sciences, Other?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $63,771 to $74,962 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Social Sciences, Other?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 3 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$71,200Median reported earnings · year 4
$58,575Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
38thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
9With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 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
- $31,840
- Federal debt
- $11,204
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,888
- Federal debt
- $25,750
- Reporting programs
- 40
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,200
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,080
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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$63,771National median$71,20075th percentile$74,962
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.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$82,105Observed year-4 earnings$50,531
Columbia University in the City of New York$21,590 price · $87,609 earningsUniversity of California, Los Angeles$12,548 price · $82,105 earningsCoppin State University$9,977 price · $72,178 earningsEmpire State University$11,676 price · $71,200 earningsColumbus State University$13,115 price · $67,595 earningsAzusa Pacific University$22,212 price · $63,771 earningsClark University$28,714 price · $62,304 earningsCapella University$17,956 price · $50,531 earnings
$9,977Annual college-wide average net price$22,212
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.
1Columbia University in the City of New York$87,6092University of California, Los Angeles$82,1053CUNY Graduate School and University Center$74,9624Coppin State University$72,1785Empire State University$71,2006Columbus State University$67,5957Azusa Pacific University$63,7718Clark University$62,3049Capella University$50,531Observed 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 →12%
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 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 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $87,609 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,590 |
| 2 | University of California, Los AngelesMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $82,105 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,548 |
| 3 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $74,962 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 4 | Coppin State UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $72,178 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,977 |
| 5 | Empire State UniversityMaster's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $71,200 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,676 |
| 6 | Columbus State UniversityMaster's Degree | Columbus, GA | $67,595 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,115 |
| 7 | Azusa Pacific UniversityMaster's Degree | Azusa, CA | $63,771 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,212 |
| 8 | Clark UniversityMaster's Degree | Worcester, MA | $62,304 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,714 |
| 9 | Capella UniversityMaster's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $50,531 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,956 |
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.