Bachelor's-5% vs national median4,105 grads tracked
Social Sciences at Illinois State University
Ranked 158th of 387 bachelor's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,238
middle 50%: $27,322 – $49,054
Median · 5 years out
$56,526
middle 50%: $42,341 – $75,289
Median · 10 years out
$74,446
middle 50%: $54,525 – $102,133
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Social Sciences (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Illinois State University social science majors enter the workforce with a $37k median salary. This grows to $57k at year five and $74k by year ten.
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
7.5 yrs
≈ $8,871 total interest
Same major at other universities
Northern Illinois University
$57,256 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$57,173 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Iowa
$56,774 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$56,676 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$56,640 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stout
$56,595 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$56,433 · 5 yrs out
Agnes Scott College
$56,390 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$56,297 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University
$56,295 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$56,258 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Mennonite University
$56,249 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Illinois State University
Education (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$94,916 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$93,908 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$92,435 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$91,685 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$91,592 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$89,527 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$88,197 · 5 yrs out
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctorate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out