Bright outlook
Management
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
Social Sciences, General
CIP45.01
317 colleges offer Social Sciences, General. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 317
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $52,095
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $19,500
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 38
- Associate's
- 180
- Bachelor's
- 317
- Master's
- 68
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 9
- Doctoral
- 21
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 43
What it covers
About Social Sciences, General
A program that focuses on the general study of human social behavior and social institutions using any of the methodologies common to the social sciences and/or history, or an undifferentiated program of study in the social sciences.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 45.01.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 45.01.
- Social Sciences, General
- Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods
- Survey Research/Methodology
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 38 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 180 | $44,2664 yrs after · 38 colleges | $11,54112 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 317 | $52,0954 yrs after · 77 colleges | $19,50053 colleges |
| Master's | 68 | $57,0274 yrs after · 8 colleges | $66,0008 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 21 | Not reported | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | $40,9071 college |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 43 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Social Sciences, General graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit · 314 graduates
$103,229
debt $15,000
- 2
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 40 graduates
$91,917
debt $21,125
- 3
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 163 graduates
$78,996
debt $25,000
- 4
University of Washington-Seattle
Seattle, WA · Public · 49 graduates
$75,301
debt $20,916
- 5
Towson, MD · Public · 22 graduates
$68,242
debt $19,500
- 6
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public · 63 graduates
$63,622
debt $15,769
- 7
Saratoga Springs, NY · Public · 25 graduates
$61,925
debt $20,750
- 8
Pullman, WA · Public · 228 graduates
$61,617
debt $20,495
- 9
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX · Public · 17 graduates
$59,440
debt $15,500
- 10
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 23 graduates
$58,798
debt $23,876
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Social Sciences, General by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Compliance Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Loss Prevention Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Managers, All Other
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook
Management
Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Wind Energy Development Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Wind Energy Operations Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Science
Sociologists
- Median pay
- $106,030
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Master's degree
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
More in Social Sciences
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Social Sciences, General
How many colleges offer Social Sciences, General?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Social Sciences, General at these degree levels: certificate (38 colleges), associate's (180 colleges), bachelor's (317 colleges), master's (68 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (9 colleges), doctoral (21 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (43 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Social Sciences, General graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Social Sciences, General earn $52,095 a year four years after finishing, across 77 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Social Sciences, General graduates earn the most?
Vanderbilt University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Social Sciences, General: $103,229 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.