WhatGradsMake
Master's+6% vs national median264 grads tracked

Social Sciences at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Ranked 32nd of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$50,441
middle 50%: $32,543 – $70,365
Median · 5 years out
$80,982
middle 50%: $59,055 – $108,509
Median · 10 years out
$99,124
middle 50%: $77,631 – $132,774

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 University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill's master's program in Social Sciences earn a median $50,441 one year after graduating, rising to $99,124 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% above the national median of $76,582 for this field, ranking 32nd 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
5.4 yrs
≈ $6,237 total interest

Same major at other universities

Pennsylvania State University (The)
$82,642 · 5 yrs out
Southern Connecticut State University
$82,210 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$82,097 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$81,761 · 5 yrs out
Youngstown State University
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$81,116 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$80,863 · 5 yrs out
Columbus State University
$80,758 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Graduate School & University Center
$80,614 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$80,415 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$80,113 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$80,030 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$214,723 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$192,150 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$178,780 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$167,515 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,181 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,648 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$147,757 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$140,602 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$127,840 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$125,175 · 5 yrs out
Journalism (Bachelor's)
$124,373 · 5 yrs out
Library Science (Doctorate)
$121,393 · 5 yrs out

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