Doctoral (Research)0% vs national median223 grads tracked
Social Sciences at Purdue University
Ranked 26th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$74,005
middle 50%: $58,363 – $95,867
Median · 5 years out
$91,987
middle 50%: $73,271 – $116,855
Median · 10 years out
$97,692
middle 50%: $70,870 – $128,840
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
Purdue University research doctorate graduates in Social Sciences earn $74,005 initially. Median pay increases to $97,692 by the tenth year.
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
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,582 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$94,549 · 5 yrs out
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
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$91,811 · 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
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