Master's-11% vs national median426 grads tracked
Social Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University
Ranked 90th of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$54,163
middle 50%: $43,422 – $66,482
Median · 5 years out
$68,484
middle 50%: $57,533 – $82,589
Median · 10 years out
$85,137
middle 50%: $66,352 – $107,045
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
Virginia Commonwealth University social science master's graduates earn $54k in year one. Salaries reach $68k after five years and $85k 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
5.8 yrs
≈ $6,447 total interest
Same major at other universities
Texas Tech University
$70,425 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$70,184 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$69,644 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$69,466 · 5 yrs out
Fayetteville State University
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$68,928 · 5 yrs out
University of Bridgeport
$68,249 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$67,948 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$67,936 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$67,887 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$67,376 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$67,373 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Virginia Commonwealth University
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$175,347 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$157,685 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$154,279 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,472 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$131,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,259 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,217 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$105,799 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$105,500 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$105,054 · 5 yrs out