U.S. median for this major: $52,520.
College Scorecard field of study; 71 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 52% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,130.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,367. College Scorecard.
GVSU Social Sciences: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Social Sciences nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses GVSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,272 | $54,242 | 2.8 years |
| $30–48k | $11,902 | $52,607 | 2.8 years |
| $48–75k | $12,861 | $56,846 | 3.0 years |
| $75–110k | $16,609 | $73,412 | 3.8 years |
| $110k+ | $22,534 | $99,600 | 5.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (45% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Social Sciences graduates 4 years after graduating ($52,520) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,109 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Social Sciences at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Social Sciences graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State University | $58,797 | $29,198 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University | $52,520 | $27,400 | $16,317 | 67% |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | $31,967 | $38,850 | $9,492 | 58% |
13 more Michigan colleges offer Social Sciences but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Social Sciences graduates
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Social Science Research Assistants
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at GVSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About GVSU
- Acceptance rate: 83% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 67% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,118
- Full cost breakdown · all 83 majors · overview
Related majors at GVSU
- Economics—
- Political Science$48,896
- Sociology$48,664
GVSU Social Sciences questions
How much do GVSU Social Sciences graduates earn?
Social Sciences graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median $52,520 four years after graduating and $43,217 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Sciences graduates across 85 colleges is $52,520.
How much debt do GVSU Social Sciences graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Sciences graduates of Grand Valley State University is $27,400, about 52% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,130.
Is GVSU a good school for Social Sciences in Michigan?
On pay, Social Sciences graduates of Grand Valley State University earn $52,520 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Michigan colleges ($52,520) and $0 above the U.S. median ($52,520). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does GVSU rank for Social Sciences in Michigan?
Of 3 Michigan colleges reporting Social Sciences graduate earnings, Grand Valley State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Michigan State University at $58,797.
What jobs do Social Sciences graduates get?
A common career is elementary school teachers, except special education, with a median wage of $61,900 in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI area and $63,970 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and social science research assistants.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Grand Valley State University Social Sciences: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/grand-valley-state-university/majors/social-sciences (College Scorecard and BLS data).