Doctoral (Research)+4% vs national median295 grads tracked
Social Sciences at State University of New York at Albany
Ranked 17th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$79,183
middle 50%: $61,050 – $101,698
Median · 5 years out
$95,797
middle 50%: $72,791 – $128,025
Median · 10 years out
$97,191
middle 50%: $79,262 – $129,763
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
Social Sciences research doctorate holders at SUNY Albany see a median starting salary of $79k. Earnings reach $96k after five years and stabilize near $97k by year ten.
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
4.1 yrs
≈ $4,289 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Ohio State University (The)
$95,159 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$94,589 · 5 yrs out
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
Other majors at State University of New York at Albany
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,191 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$123,601 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$118,430 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$113,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$103,697 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$103,319 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Doctorate)
$102,295 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$98,892 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, Other (Bachelor's)
$95,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$94,989 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$94,330 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$93,915 · 5 yrs out