Bachelor's-10% vs national median1,824 grads tracked
Social Sciences at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Ranked 218th of 387 bachelor's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$33,674
middle 50%: $24,336 – $45,720
Median · 5 years out
$53,782
middle 50%: $38,706 – $74,945
Median · 10 years out
$66,818
middle 50%: $46,921 – $91,197
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
First-year median salaries for Social Sciences majors stand at $34k. Income grows to $54k by year five and $67k 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
8 yrs
≈ $9,638 total interest
Same major at other universities
Southern Utah University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$53,953 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$53,937 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Platteville
$53,934 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$53,843 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Illinois University
$53,785 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$53,699 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$53,653 · 5 yrs out
Texas Woman's University
$53,569 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$53,503 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$53,424 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$53,357 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,060 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$128,910 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$128,254 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$112,207 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$110,141 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$98,560 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,955 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$97,921 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$95,779 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,729 · 5 yrs out