WhatGradsMake
Master's+2% vs national median351 grads tracked

Social Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Ranked 44th of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$58,831
middle 50%: $42,847 – $83,662
Median · 5 years out
$78,278
middle 50%: $56,382 – $109,555
Median · 10 years out
$95,419
middle 50%: $69,476 – $142,627

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University's master's program in Social Sciences earn a median $58,831 one year after graduating, rising to $95,419 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $76,582 for this field, ranking 44th 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
5.2 yrs
≈ $5,747 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Cincinnati
$80,030 · 5 yrs out
City College of New York - CUNY
$79,503 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Kansas City
$78,889 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$78,372 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Brooklyn College
$78,021 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Empire State University
$77,831 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$77,811 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$77,524 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$77,524 · 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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