WhatGradsMake
Master's+10% vs national median171 grads tracked

Social Sciences at University of Virginia

Ranked 22nd of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,655
middle 50%: $23,469 – $71,585
Median · 5 years out
$84,159
middle 50%: $53,485 – $126,300
Median · 10 years out
$128,292
middle 50%: $85,430 – $183,647

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 University of Virginia's master's program in Social Sciences earn a median $39,655 one year after graduating, rising to $128,292 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 10% above the national median of $76,582 for this field, ranking 22nd 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
5.7 yrs
≈ $6,905 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Illinois Chicago
$86,191 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$85,978 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$85,788 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$84,991 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$84,874 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$84,347 · 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
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$82,642 · 5 yrs out
Southern Connecticut State University
$82,210 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$82,097 · 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

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