U.S. median for this major: $52,520.
College Scorecard field of study; 280 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 59% 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 $21,590. College Scorecard.
Portland 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 Portland 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 | $7,655 | $33,835 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $7,752 | $34,264 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $8,981 | $39,696 | 2.5 years |
| $75–110k | $12,993 | $57,429 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $19,112 | $84,475 | 5.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (35% 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 ($52,562) minus $36,549 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in OR (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,013 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 Oregon colleges
Every Oregon 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 | Southern Oregon University | $61,526 | $27,167 | $16,732 | 43% |
| 2 | University of Oregon | $57,532 | $22,917 | $22,182 | 72% |
| 3 | Portland State University | $52,562 | $31,000 | $9,552 | 53% |
| 4 | Western Oregon University | $51,921 | $25,000 | $17,237 | 47% |
| 5 | Oregon State University | $51,005 | — | $19,604 | 70% |
| 6 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | $51,005 | — | $18,048 | 56% |
3 more Oregon 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 Portland State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Portland State University
- Acceptance rate: 91% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 53% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $57,906
- Full cost breakdown · all 72 majors · overview
Related majors at Portland State University
- Economics$75,482
- Political Science$59,185
- Sociology$53,753
- Urban Studies / Affairs—
Portland State University Social Sciences questions
How much do Portland State University Social Sciences graduates earn?
Social Sciences graduates of Portland State University earn a median $52,562 four years after graduating and $35,093 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Sciences graduates across 85 colleges is $52,520.
How much debt do Portland State University Social Sciences graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Sciences graduates of Portland State University is $31,000, about 59% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,130.
Is Portland State University a good school for Social Sciences in Oregon?
On pay, Social Sciences graduates of Portland State University earn $52,562 four years out, $320 above the median for the same major across 6 Oregon colleges ($52,242) and $42 above the U.S. median ($52,520). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Portland State University rank for Social Sciences in Oregon?
Of 6 Oregon colleges reporting Social Sciences graduate earnings, Portland State University ranks 3rd. The highest is Southern Oregon University at $61,526.
What jobs do Social Sciences graduates get?
A common career is elementary school teachers, except special education, with a median wage of $82,330 in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA area and $63,970 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and social science research assistants.
Is Portland State University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Portland State University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Portland State University Social Sciences: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/portland-state-university/majors/social-sciences (College Scorecard and BLS data).