WhatGradsMake
Master's+8% vs national median186 grads tracked

Social Sciences at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Ranked 26th of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$68,578
middle 50%: $43,858 – $97,530
Median · 5 years out
$82,642
middle 50%: $60,234 – $109,357
Median · 10 years out
$100,181
middle 50%: $76,958 – $134,258

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 Pennsylvania State University (The)'s master's program in Social Sciences earn a median $68,578 one year after graduating, rising to $100,181 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% above the national median of $76,582 for this field, ranking 26th 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
4.7 yrs
≈ $5,036 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Utah
$84,874 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$84,347 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$84,159 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$84,083 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$82,907 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$82,803 · 5 yrs out
Southern Connecticut State University
$82,210 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$82,097 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$81,761 · 5 yrs out
Youngstown State University
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$81,116 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$80,982 · 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

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