Bachelor's-4% vs national median4,460 grads tracked
Social Sciences at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 152nd of 387 bachelor's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,206
middle 50%: $27,175 – $49,709
Median · 5 years out
$57,256
middle 50%: $42,724 – $74,429
Median · 10 years out
$72,774
middle 50%: $52,575 – $99,280
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
Northern Illinois University social sciences majors see $37k in initial median earnings. Salaries rise to $57k by year five.
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
7.4 yrs
≈ $8,820 total interest
Same major at other universities
Eastern Connecticut State University
$57,544 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$57,491 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Purchase
$57,448 · 5 yrs out
Sam Houston State University
$57,322 · 5 yrs out
Concordia College - Moorhead
$57,319 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$57,305 · 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
Illinois State University
$56,526 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out