WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+8% vs national median653 grads tracked

Social Sciences at University of Michigan

Ranked 10th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$87,850
middle 50%: $62,162 – $129,609
Median · 5 years out
$99,731
middle 50%: $78,016 – $133,165
Median · 10 years out
$116,180
middle 50%: $89,592 – $169,165

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 Michigan's doctoral (research) program in Social Sciences earn a median $87,850 one year after graduating, rising to $116,180 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% above the national median of $92,302 for this field, ranking 10th 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
3.8 yrs
≈ $3,891 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Illinois Chicago
$106,500 · 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
Old Dominion University
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$98,263 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$98,232 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$97,859 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$96,986 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$96,406 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Michigan

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$240,526 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$193,286 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$162,338 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,020 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$148,552 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$144,865 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$139,695 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$137,588 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$137,498 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$137,470 · 5 yrs out

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