# Grand Valley State University: Social Sciences (bachelor's)

Allendale, MI. IPEDS 170082, CIP 45.01. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/grand-valley-state-university/majors/social-sciences

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $43,217
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $52,520 (U.S. median for this major: $52,520 across 85 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $27,400 (U.S. median $26,130)
- Rank in MI: 2 of 3 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the MI median for this major (3 colleges, $52,520): +$0
- Versus the U.S. median: +$0

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.42 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $52,520 minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| 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 |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Social Sciences at MI colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | $58,797 | $29,198 | $19,680 | 81% |
| Grand Valley State University | $52,520 | $27,400 | $16,317 | 67% |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | $31,967 | $38,850 | $9,492 | 58% |

## Careers
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021): median wage $61,900 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI, $65,110 MI, $63,970 U.S.; U.S. jobs -0.4% by 2035
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2031): median wage $63,730 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI, $66,030 MI, $72,040 U.S.; U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035
- Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061): median wage not reported Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI, $60,210 MI, $61,990 U.S.; U.S. jobs 5% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).