U.S. median for this major: $52,520.
College Scorecard field of study; 24 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 49% 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 $39,694. College Scorecard.
Pennsylvania State University 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 Pennsylvania State University'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 | $19,845 | $83,349 | 3.5 years |
| $30–48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 3.5 years |
| $48–75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 4.5 years |
| $75–110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 5.6 years |
| $110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 6.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (70% 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 ($59,883) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $24,086 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 Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania 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 | Pennsylvania State University | $59,883 | $29,500 | $32,875 | 86% |
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | $54,069 | $27,000 | $17,945 | 40% |
| 3 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | $54,069 | $27,000 | $18,202 | 56% |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $54,069 | $27,000 | $30,434 | 86% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania Western University | $42,582 | $30,887 | $18,256 | 52% |
13 more Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance rate: 61% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 86% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,435
- Full cost breakdown · all 141 majors · overview
Related majors at Pennsylvania State University
- Economics$81,228
- Political Science$68,918
- Sociology$49,197
- Social Sciences, Other—
Pennsylvania State University Social Sciences questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University Social Sciences graduates earn?
Social Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $59,883 four years after graduating and $40,584 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Sciences graduates across 85 colleges is $52,520.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Social Sciences graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $29,500, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,130.
Is Pennsylvania State University a good school for Social Sciences in Pennsylvania?
On pay, Social Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn $59,883 four years out, $5,814 above the median for the same major across 6 Pennsylvania colleges ($54,069) and $7,363 above the U.S. median ($52,520). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Social Sciences in Pennsylvania?
Of 5 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Social Sciences graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Social Sciences graduates get?
A common career is elementary school teachers, except special education, with a median wage of $76,760 in the State College, PA 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: “Pennsylvania State University Social Sciences: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/social-sciences (College Scorecard and BLS data).