Doctoral (Research)-1% vs national median237 grads tracked
Social Sciences at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Ranked 28th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$72,242
middle 50%: $54,709 – $89,774
Median · 5 years out
$91,544
middle 50%: $73,958 – $112,807
Median · 10 years out
$100,394
middle 50%: $86,868 – $120,396
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
Social Sciences doctorate graduates earn a median of $72k initially. Median pay increases to $100k after ten years.
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
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,676 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Purdue University
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$91,811 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$91,385 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$90,910 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$90,795 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$90,722 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$90,406 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$90,101 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$176,841 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$168,157 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,126 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$150,876 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$129,928 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$122,810 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,242 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$114,563 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$102,325 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$100,689 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,245 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$99,491 · 5 yrs out