WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+15% vs national median233 grads tracked

Social Sciences at University of Illinois Chicago

Ranked 4th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$87,964
middle 50%: $60,484 – $119,778
Median · 5 years out
$106,500
middle 50%: $82,107 – $137,372
Median · 10 years out
$110,705
middle 50%: $84,610 – $160,199

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Social Sciences (doctoral (research)) graduates.

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

Graduates of University of Illinois Chicago's doctoral (research) program in Social Sciences earn a median $87,964 one year after graduating, rising to $110,705 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 15% above the national median of $92,302 for this field, ranking 4th of 61 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
3.7 yrs
≈ $3,825 total interest

Same major at other universities

Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$115,806 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$105,519 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$104,958 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$103,633 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$100,451 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$99,870 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$99,731 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Illinois Chicago

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$203,383 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$155,322 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,199 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$146,852 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,939 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$139,846 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$135,535 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$133,429 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$123,770 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$117,024 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$115,930 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Anthropology
Compare universities
Archeology
Compare universities
Criminology
Compare universities
Economics
Compare universities
Geography and Cartography
Compare universities
International Relations and National Security Studies
Compare universities