U.S. median for this major: $52,520.
College Scorecard field of study; 107 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 11% 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 $89,590. College Scorecard.
Vanderbilt University Social Sciences: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Tennessee colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 Vanderbilt 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 | $3,414 | $13,895 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $1,876 | $7,635 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $4,498 | $18,307 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $12,153 | $49,463 | under 1 year |
| $110k+ | $45,145 | $183,740 | 2.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (87% 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 ($103,229) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $68,711 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.
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 Vanderbilt University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Vanderbilt University
- Acceptance rate: 6% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 94% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $91,565
- Full cost breakdown · all 53 majors · overview
Related majors at Vanderbilt University
- Economics$140,337
- Political Science$102,789
- Sociology$83,649
Vanderbilt University Social Sciences questions
How much do Vanderbilt University Social Sciences graduates earn?
Social Sciences graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median $103,229 four years after graduating and $61,389 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Sciences graduates across 85 colleges is $52,520.
How much debt do Vanderbilt University Social Sciences graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Sciences graduates of Vanderbilt University is $11,000, about 11% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,130.
Where does Vanderbilt University rank for Social Sciences in Tennessee?
Of 1 Tennessee colleges reporting Social Sciences graduate earnings, Vanderbilt 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 $61,460 in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 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: “Vanderbilt University Social Sciences: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/vanderbilt-university/majors/social-sciences (College Scorecard and BLS data).