WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)-2% vs national median244 grads tracked

Social Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Ranked 32nd of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$67,118
middle 50%: $49,399 – $87,772
Median · 5 years out
$90,722
middle 50%: $76,958 – $123,601
Median · 10 years out
$122,253
middle 50%: $89,616 – $186,259

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

Graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University's doctoral (research) program in Social Sciences earn a median $67,118 one year after graduating, rising to $122,253 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% below the national median of $92,302 for this field, ranking 32nd of 61 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
4.5 yrs
≈ $4,954 total interest

Same major at other universities

Purdue University
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$91,811 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$91,544 · 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
Binghamton University
$90,406 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$90,101 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$90,034 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$89,177 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$89,036 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$88,977 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$160,426 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$155,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$148,193 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$132,072 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$129,123 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$119,838 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$116,512 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$109,749 · 5 yrs out

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