Home › Washington State University › Social Sciences, General

Social Sciences, General at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,069/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk High (45% exposed)

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

ROI 11.0x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #12 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs Top 25%

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	$579K	$570K	$528K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.1x	11.0x	10.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	4.9x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	61%	54%	43%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	60	60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,988

Out-of-state: $116,292 (4.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,604

-11% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,551

6.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$59,442

38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $43,069 per year, Social Sciences, General graduates from Washington State University earn slightly above the $38,652 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 11.0x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,551 debt-to-$43,069 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #12 out of 76 programs, Washington State University's Social Sciences, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $43,069 to $59,442 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Washington State University

With 85% of applicants admitted, Washington State University prioritizes broad access, with 21,583 students enrolled in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

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 Washington State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Washington State University's Social Sciences, General program score?

This program scores 60/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Social Sciences, General graduates.

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.

Why does Washington State University rank so high for Social Sciences, General?

The #12 ranking out of 76 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 →