Home › Bard College › Social Sciences, General

Social Sciences, General at Bard College

Annandale-On-Hudson, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $23,302/yr (-40% vs median)

AI Risk High (45% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)

ROI 1.5x earnings multiple

Ranked #69 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Social Sciences, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$356K	$370K	$371K
Earnings Multiple	1.4x	1.5x	1.5x
Probability of Field Employment	61%	54%	43%
DegreeOutlook Score	35	34	38

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$254,448

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$127,084

50% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,125

11.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $23,302 place Bard College below the $38,652 national median for Social Sciences, General — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The financial case is thin at 1.5x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Social Sciences, General's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,125 represents roughly 12 months of the $23,302 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #69 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs, Bard College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Bard College

A 52% admission rate makes Bard College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 2,280 students in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $127,084 over four years — 50% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Bard College →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Statisticians $103,300/yr

Sociologists $101,690/yr

View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Social Sciences, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Bard College

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Sciences, General at Bard College?

A score of 34/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Sciences, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Social Sciences, General careers?

With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $370,694 in decade earnings vs $355,967 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Social Sciences, General from Bard College?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Is Bard College a hidden gem for Social Sciences, General?

After financial aid, the average student pays $127,084 over four years — 50% below the $254,448 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →