Social Sciences, General at Butte College

Oroville, CA · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 8,384 in Oroville, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $26,482 track close to the $26,524 national median for Social Sciences, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 151.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Social Sciences, General programs nationally.

The 36% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 45% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Social Sciences, General graduates.

At $7,500 in median debt against $26,482 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #5 of 21 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Sciences, General program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $26,482 to $39,587 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Social Sciences, General has a registered apprenticeship option through Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer with a median wage of $136,550/yr — worth exploring for students who prefer structured on-the-job training.

71 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
71
Score
73
High End
Earnings $26,482/yr (-0% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (55% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$434K
10.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
162.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
11 of 11
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$2,672
Out-of-state: $16,832
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,500
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,587
49% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Social Sciences, General graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
Statisticians $103,300 +8.5% 34%
Sociologists $101,690 +3.6% 46%
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
Statisticians
$103,300
+8.5% growth 34% AI-proof
Sociologists
$101,690
+3.6% growth 46% AI-proof

View all 11 career paths with full salary data →

About Social Sciences, General Careers

Your understanding of human behavior can lead directly into management. In this common path, you’ll spend your days in an office leading project teams, using software like Asana to track progress, and analyzing performance data to solve operational problems. Alternatively, you might pursue a career in education, where you’ll be in a classroom guiding students through a history lesson, creating lesson plans, and using platforms like Canvas to communicate with students and parents.

Read the full Social Sciences, General career guide →

Compare & Explore

Social Sciences, General Overview

Social Sciences, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Butte College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Social Sciences, General at Butte College?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Butte College's Social Sciences, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Social Sciences, General to AI automation?
With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $277,059 in decade earnings vs $433,835 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Social Sciences, General at Butte College?
At $7,500 in median debt, Social Sciences, General graduates from Butte College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Why does Butte College rank so high for Social Sciences, General?
The #5 ranking out of 21 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
How many job openings are there for Social Sciences, General graduates?
With approximately 318,400 annual openings across mapped careers, Social Sciences, General offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →