Bachelor's-6% vs national median2,163 grads tracked
Social Sciences at South Dakota State University
Ranked 159th of 387 bachelor's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$39,898
middle 50%: $30,461 – $49,438
Median · 5 years out
$56,433
middle 50%: $43,916 – $71,800
Median · 10 years out
$68,875
middle 50%: $52,865 – $94,190
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Social Sciences (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Social Sciences bachelor's graduates earn $40k in year one. Median salaries reach $56k at year five and $69k at 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
7.4 yrs
≈ $8,605 total interest
Same major at other universities
Texas State University
$57,173 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Iowa
$56,774 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$56,676 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$56,640 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stout
$56,595 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$56,526 · 5 yrs out
Agnes Scott College
$56,390 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$56,297 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University
$56,295 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$56,258 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Mennonite University
$56,249 · 5 yrs out
Valparaiso University
$56,170 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at South Dakota State University
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,496 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$148,262 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$142,581 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$113,950 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,697 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$93,240 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$87,405 · 5 yrs out