Bachelor's+3% vs national median3,399 grads tracked
Social Sciences at Purdue University
Ranked 95th of 387 bachelor's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$39,096
middle 50%: $27,852 – $54,601
Median · 5 years out
$61,375
middle 50%: $44,911 – $83,916
Median · 10 years out
$79,992
middle 50%: $55,558 – $116,156
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
Purdue University Social Sciences graduates earn a median $39k initially. Salary reaches $80k by year 10.
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 yrs
≈ $8,246 total interest
Same major at other universities
Franklin College of Indiana
$62,278 · 5 yrs out
Converse University
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
Wofford College
$62,186 · 5 yrs out
Framingham State University
$61,837 · 5 yrs out
Bethel University
$61,446 · 5 yrs out
Fitchburg State University
$61,431 · 5 yrs out
Benedictine University
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
College of Staten Island/CUNY
$61,093 · 5 yrs out
Augsburg University
$60,922 · 5 yrs out
Truman State University
$60,883 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$60,876 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
$60,484 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Purdue University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$219,424 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$162,085 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$160,199 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,081 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$151,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$141,828 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$122,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Doctorate)
$122,253 · 5 yrs out