Social Sciences, General graduates from Harrisburg Area Community College earn $46,654 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $21,405.
Social Sciences, General at Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania • Associate's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Social Sciences, General at Harrisburg Area Community College
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Harrisburg Area Community College and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Social Sciences, General at the associate's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 50 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Harrisburg Area Community College, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $46,654 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $41,364 across all institutions offering Social Sciences, General, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Harrisburg Area Community College, the mean median-earnings figure is $47,583, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Social Sciences, General graduates at Harrisburg Area Community College is $21,405, which translates to roughly $178 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Social Sciences, General at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Ohlone College | $58,928 | — |
| City College of San Francisco | $56,257 | — |
| Roxbury Community College | $55,329 | — |
| College of San Mateo | $52,619 | — |
| De Anza College | $51,460 | — |
| Woodland Community College | $51,051 | — |
| Merritt College | $50,001 | — |
| Pasadena City College | $48,709 | — |
| Northern Virginia Community College | $48,344 | $9,750 |
| American River College | $47,731 | — |
Other Programs at Harrisburg Area Community College
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,337 | $21,250 |
| Engineering, General | $76,696 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $71,104 | $20,112 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $66,048 | — |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | $63,249 | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $60,172 | — |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | $56,319 | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $56,279 | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $54,807 | $19,264 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $53,524 | — |
Other Schools with Social Sciences, General
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.