Doctoral (Research)-1% vs national median333 grads tracked
Social Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ranked 27th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$78,494
middle 50%: $61,085 – $106,706
Median · 5 years out
$91,811
middle 50%: $75,625 – $112,517
Median · 10 years out
$100,222
middle 50%: $75,525 – $140,411
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
Social Sciences research doctorate graduates earn a median of $78k in year one. By year 10, salaries reach $100k.
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
4.2 yrs
≈ $4,373 total interest
Same major at other universities
South Dakota State University
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Graduate School & University Center
$94,247 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$93,908 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$92,302 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$91,544 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$91,385 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$90,910 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$90,795 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$90,722 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$90,406 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out