Social Sciences, Other: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$73,080 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.
$73,080Median year-4 earnings
$17,956Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$73,080Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
14thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1Reporting programs
1With 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
- $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$73,080National median$73,08075th percentile$73,080
1 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.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
1 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Capella University$73,080Observed 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 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All OtherSOC 25-1069 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 19-3099 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | Capella UniversityDoctoral Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $73,080 | 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.