Doctoral (Research)+6% vs national median284 grads tracked
Social Sciences at University of Virginia
Ranked 13th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$78,677
middle 50%: $53,485 – $126,300
Median · 5 years out
$98,232
middle 50%: $72,429 – $138,999
Median · 10 years out
$108,603
middle 50%: $84,514 – $188,660
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 $79k initially. Median salaries reach $109k 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 yrs
≈ $4,281 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Utah
$103,633 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$100,451 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$99,870 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$99,731 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$98,263 · 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
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$94,589 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Virginia
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$222,735 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$222,735 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$198,412 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$187,481 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$163,027 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$162,877 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$144,468 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$144,468 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$134,161 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$133,882 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$133,294 · 5 yrs out