WhatGradsMake
Master's-4% vs national median497 grads tracked

Social Sciences at Portland State University

Ranked 68th of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$57,277
middle 50%: $39,499 – $74,540
Median · 5 years out
$73,271
middle 50%: $50,007 – $95,631
Median · 10 years out
$90,442
middle 50%: $64,402 – $118,561

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 Portland State University's master's program in Social Sciences earn a median $57,277 one year after graduating, rising to $90,442 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% below the national median of $76,582 for this field, ranking 68th 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
5.5 yrs
≈ $6,020 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Minnesota Duluth
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$73,476 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$73,294 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Illinois University
$73,271 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$72,896 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$72,871 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$72,505 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$72,242 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$71,899 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$71,671 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Portland State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$189,860 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$158,313 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$130,437 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$126,846 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$123,233 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$122,667 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$120,677 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$116,662 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,474 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,147 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$110,977 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$105,672 · 5 yrs out

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