Social Sciences, General at University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,363/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)
ROI 13.9x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #45 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 $519K $517K $486K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.9x 13.9x 13.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.3x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 61% 54% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$37,260
Out-of-state: $119,348 (4.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,688
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,866
41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,363 track close to the $38,652 national median for Social Sciences, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 13.9x 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 — 45% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,500 debt-to-$35,363 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #45 out of 76 programs, University of Utah's financial outcomes for Social Sciences, General trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,363 to $49,866 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Utah

University of Utah has a 87% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 26,041 in Salt Lake City, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Utah →

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 University of Utah

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

How does University of Utah's Social Sciences, General program score?
A score of 50/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Utah trails the majority of Social Sciences, General programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Social Sciences, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Social Sciences, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →