WhatGradsMake
Master's-17% vs national median390 grads tracked

Social Sciences at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 115th of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$48,878
middle 50%: $32,096 – $64,812
Median · 5 years out
$63,874
middle 50%: $44,173 – $88,730
Median · 10 years out
$81,923
middle 50%: $57,396 – $112,424

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 Northern Illinois University's master's program in Social Sciences earn a median $48,878 one year after graduating, rising to $81,923 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 17% below the national median of $76,582 for this field, ranking 115th 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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,127 total interest

Same major at other universities

Northern Arizona University
$64,902 · 5 yrs out
Indiana State University
$64,877 · 5 yrs out
Hollins University
$64,834 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$64,689 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$64,114 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$63,919 · 5 yrs out
Texas Woman's University
$63,610 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$63,430 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$63,056 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$62,605 · 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

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