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
Social Sciences master's graduates at Portland State University earn $57k initially. Median pay rises to $73k after five years and $90k by the tenth year.
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 Massachusetts at Boston
$74,545 · 5 yrs out
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
Bowling Green State University
$71,671 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Portland State University
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
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
Education (Doctorate)
$98,538 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$96,310 · 5 yrs out