Social Sciences, General graduates from Portland State University earn $52,562 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $21,914.
Social Sciences, General at Portland State University
Portland, Oregon • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Social Sciences, General at Portland State University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Portland State University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Social Sciences, General at the bachelor'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 247 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Portland State University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $52,562 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 $49,575 across all institutions offering Social Sciences, General, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Portland State University, the mean median-earnings figure is $64,088, 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 Portland State University is $21,914, which translates to roughly $183 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | $103,229 | $12,250 |
| New York University | $91,917 | $27,000 |
| Harvard University | $78,996 | $22,750 |
| Manhattan University | $75,745 | $26,000 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $75,301 | $18,268 |
| Campbell University | $71,052 | — |
| Towson University | $68,242 | — |
| Whittier College | $64,736 | $24,937 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | $64,307 | — |
| Thomas Edison State University | $63,772 | $15,312 |
Other Programs at Portland State University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $145,715 | $24,484 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $139,274 | $24,428 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $123,281 | $39,595 |
| Real Estate | $117,821 | $39,144 |
| Computer Science | $113,889 | $25,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $113,459 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | $107,077 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $101,905 | $23,875 |
| Public Administration | $99,801 | $41,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $94,223 | $23,000 |
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.