Bachelor's-22% vs national median858 grads tracked
Social Sciences at Western Carolina University
Ranked 341st of 387 bachelor's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$28,873
middle 50%: $21,974 – $38,302
Median · 5 years out
$46,414
middle 50%: $35,469 – $60,127
Median · 10 years out
$54,124
middle 50%: $41,844 – $70,637
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
Social Sciences graduates from Western Carolina University see a $29k median salary in year one. Ten-year median earnings reach $54k.
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
9.5 yrs
≈ $11,550 total interest
Same major at other universities
Averett University
$46,845 · 5 yrs out
Central State University
$46,555 · 5 yrs out
Augusta University
$46,532 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
$46,492 · 5 yrs out
Charleston Southern University
$46,485 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Central University
$46,440 · 5 yrs out
Southeastern Louisiana University
$46,333 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Hilo
$46,147 · 5 yrs out
Concord University
$46,093 · 5 yrs out
Winston-Salem State University
$46,024 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina Asheville
$45,990 · 5 yrs out
Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical Colg at Baton Rouge
$45,965 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Carolina University
Education (Doctorate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$88,779 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$86,622 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$86,216 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$85,927 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$85,430 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$84,494 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,907 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$79,484 · 5 yrs out