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Social Sciences Studies at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Social Sciences, Other
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
73
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $61,109/yr (64% vs median)
AI Risk High (33% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (111,400 openings/yr)
ROI 16.5x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 33 Social Sciences, Other programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,021K $978K $877K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.2x 16.5x 14.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.4x 4.8x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 57% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 73 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,400
Out-of-state: $182,508 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,916
-1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$113,294
85% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $61,109 put University of California-Berkeley's Social Sciences Studies program 64% above the national median of $37,190 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 16.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 33% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $61,109 far exceeding the $15,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #1 out of 33 programs, University of California-Berkeley's Social Sciences Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $61,109 to $113,294 over five years (85% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley's 12% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, one of the larger campuses at 33,073 students in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340/yr
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other $75,040/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 33 schools offering Social Sciences Studies →

Social Sciences Studies at Other Schools

CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($54,265) Rutgers University-New Brunswick ($51,753) Boston University ($48,243) Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus ($45,509) University of California-Davis ($45,178) Millersville University of Pennsylvania ($42,844) Eastern Oregon University ($42,347) Benedictine University ($42,023)

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

Computer Science ($149,866) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($137,295) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($90,008) Operations Research ($88,685) Mechanical Engineering ($88,497) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($88,030) Statistics ($83,227) Chemical Engineering ($81,553)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Social Sciences Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Berkeley's Social Sciences Studies program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of California-Berkeley's Social Sciences Studies graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Social Sciences Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Social Sciences Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 33% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of California-Berkeley rank so high for Social Sciences Studies?
The #1 ranking out of 33 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →