WhatGradsMake
Master's-8% vs national median418 grads tracked

Social Sciences at Illinois State University

Ranked 82nd of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$49,156
middle 50%: $35,402 – $67,570
Median · 5 years out
$70,461
middle 50%: $48,893 – $99,192
Median · 10 years out
$88,240
middle 50%: $62,818 – $125,073

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Social Sciences (master's) graduates.

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

Graduates of Illinois State University's master's program in Social Sciences earn a median $49,156 one year after graduating, rising to $88,240 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $76,582 for this field, ranking 82nd of 151 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
5.9 yrs
≈ $6,760 total interest

Same major at other universities

Indiana University - Bloomington
$71,321 · 5 yrs out
Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University
$71,298 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$70,713 · 5 yrs out
James Madison University
$70,527 · 5 yrs out
Sam Houston State University
$70,474 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$70,435 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$70,425 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$70,184 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$69,644 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$69,466 · 5 yrs out
Fayetteville State University
$69,154 · 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

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