WhatGradsMake
Master's-18% vs national median236 grads tracked

Social Sciences at Appalachian State University

Ranked 121st of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$45,273
middle 50%: $35,673 – $54,580
Median · 5 years out
$62,605
middle 50%: $46,858 – $81,076
Median · 10 years out
$72,095
middle 50%: $56,877 – $102,996

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Social Sciences (master's) graduates.

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

Graduates of Appalachian State University's master's program in Social Sciences earn a median $45,273 one year after graduating, rising to $72,095 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 18% below the national median of $76,582 for this field, ranking 121st of 151 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
6.7 yrs
≈ $7,558 total interest

Same major at other universities

Northern Illinois University
$63,874 · 5 yrs out
Texas Woman's University
$63,610 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$63,430 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$63,056 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$62,597 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southern University
$62,158 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Missouri
$62,075 · 5 yrs out
Lincoln University
$61,903 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$61,630 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$61,332 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Appalachian State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,901 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$91,478 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$91,478 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$89,245 · 5 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$81,200 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$80,298 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$79,669 · 5 yrs out
Insurance (Bachelor's)
$76,492 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$74,662 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$74,629 · 5 yrs out

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