Doctoral (Research)+2% vs national median302 grads tracked
Social Sciences at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Ranked 19th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$78,429
middle 50%: $61,167 – $99,860
Median · 5 years out
$94,589
middle 50%: $76,243 – $117,305
Median · 10 years out
$106,080
middle 50%: $81,941 – $140,692
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
Research doctorate graduates in Social Sciences earn a median of $78k in their first year. This income rises to $95k by year five and reaches $106k 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
≈ $4,339 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
State University of New York at Albany
$95,797 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$95,159 · 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
Northern Illinois University
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$92,302 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 5 yrs out