WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)-1% vs national median284 grads tracked

Social Sciences at Arizona State University

Ranked 29th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$73,904
middle 50%: $57,652 – $98,712
Median · 5 years out
$91,385
middle 50%: $75,035 – $120,433
Median · 10 years out
$103,751
middle 50%: $81,106 – $131,803

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Social Sciences (doctoral (research)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Arizona State University's doctoral (research) program in Social Sciences earn a median $73,904 one year after graduating, rising to $103,751 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% below the national median of $92,302 for this field, ranking 29th of 61 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,596 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$93,908 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$92,302 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$91,811 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$91,544 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$90,910 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$90,795 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$90,722 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$90,406 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$90,101 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$90,034 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Arizona State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$210,320 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$180,138 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$173,103 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$155,189 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$135,147 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$131,591 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$131,351 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$122,572 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$115,790 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$115,790 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$113,823 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$113,557 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Anthropology
Compare universities
Archeology
Compare universities
Criminology
Compare universities
Economics
Compare universities
Geography and Cartography
Compare universities
International Relations and National Security Studies
Compare universities