Master's+72% vs national median186 grads tracked
Social Sciences at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Great Valley School of Grad/Prof
Ranked 1st of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$111,945
middle 50%: $80,579 – $181,608
Median · 5 years out
$131,687
middle 50%: $93,733 – $190,296
Median · 10 years out
$142,023
middle 50%: $88,123 – $229,523
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 earn a substantial $112k in their first year. Median earnings reach $142k 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
2.8 yrs
≈ $2,973 total interest
Same major at other universities
Colorado School of Mines
$128,151 · 5 yrs out
Penn State World Campus
$104,798 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$104,170 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$103,837 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$103,136 · 5 yrs out
Chicago State University
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$98,101 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Missouri State University
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
Salem State University
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$90,847 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$87,471 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$87,210 · 5 yrs out