Social Sciences, General

21 schools compared · Average earnings $26,525/yr

What Social Sciences, General Graduates Do

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.

Many graduates begin as teachers or research assistants, building foundational experience. With a few years of proven success, you can advance into leadership roles like a school principal or a senior project manager overseeing larger teams and budgets. While starting salaries are often modest, experienced managers and specialists in high-growth fields like statistics can earn well over six figures. AI tools might help you analyze data or draft reports, but the core of your work—mentoring an employee or inspiring a classroom—relies on distinctly human skills of judgment and empathy.

Schools Offering
21
Avg Grad Earnings
$26,525/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
49/100
AI-Proof Rating
Resilient
48% of tasks AI-shielded
Apprenticeship Paths
1

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 1 registered apprenticeship occupation related to Social Sciences, General. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship Training Hours Type Salary RangeSalary Growth
Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer
RAPIDS 2073CB
Competency Competency $100K$136,550$179K 4.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Social Sciences, General

Top 20 of 21 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

# School Score EarningsEarn ROI
1 Merced College
Merced, CA
77
72–79
$34,168/yr 141.7x
2 Sierra College
Rocklin, CA
73
69–75
$30,103/yr 129.2x
3 Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA
73
69–75
$29,847/yr 125.5x
4 Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, CA
73
66–75
$27,691/yr 164.5x
5 Butte College
Oroville, CA
71
64–73
$26,482/yr 147.2x
6 Antelope Valley Community College District
Lancaster, CA
70
63–72
$24,052/yr 189.0x
7 East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, CA
68
61–71
$22,947/yr 159.0x
8 Tulsa Community College
Tulsa, OK
66
62–68
$34,203/yr 48.7x
9 Barstow Community College
Barstow, CA
66
62–68
$22,398/yr 110.7x
10 Ohlone College
Fremont, CA
65
61–67
$22,545/yr 92.8x
11 Mt San Jacinto Community College District
San Jacinto, CA
65
57–68
$20,084/yr 200.9x
12 Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Crossing, MA
64
61–66
$37,941/yr 31.8x
13 Frederick Community College
Frederick, MD
64
61–66
$32,749/yr 42.4x
14 Tidewater Community College
Norfolk, VA
58
53–60
$29,425/yr 31.1x
15 Brookdale Community College
Lincroft, NJ
56
49–58
$26,231/yr 32.3x
16 Virginia Peninsula Community College
Hampton, VA
56
50–59
$25,478/yr 35.9x
17 Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg, PA
55
49–58
$27,600/yr 26.7x
18 Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA
54
47–57
$23,637/yr 41.2x
19 Essex County College
Newark, NJ
53
45–55
$22,053/yr 32.9x
20 Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke, VA
50
43–53
$19,220/yr 32.8x

Highest Earning Social Sciences, General Programs

Schools where Social Sciences, General graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings Score
Roxbury Community College $37,941/yr 64
Tulsa Community College $34,203/yr 66
Merced College $34,168/yr 77
Frederick Community College $32,749/yr 64
Sierra College $30,103/yr 73
Pasadena City College $29,847/yr 73
Tidewater Community College $29,425/yr 58
Santa Rosa Junior College $27,691/yr 73
Harrisburg Area Community College $27,600/yr 55
Butte College $26,482/yr 71

Best ROI for Social Sciences, General

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Social Sciences, General.

School ROI Multiple Earnings Score
Mt San Jacinto Community College District 200.9x $20,084/yr 65
Antelope Valley Community College District 189.0x $24,052/yr 70
Santa Rosa Junior College 164.5x $27,691/yr 73
East Los Angeles College 159.0x $22,947/yr 68
Butte College 147.2x $26,482/yr 71
Merced College 141.7x $34,168/yr 77
Sierra College 129.2x $30,103/yr 73
Pasadena City College 125.5x $29,847/yr 73
Barstow Community College 110.7x $22,398/yr 66
Ohlone College 92.8x $22,545/yr 65

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Social Sciences, General degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the typical salary after a Social Sciences, General program?
First-year earnings for Social Sciences, General graduates average $26,525 annually, based on data from 21 programs. The range spans $18,164 at the low end to $37,941 at the top.
Will AI replace Social Sciences, General jobs?
Social Sciences, General is rated "Resilient" for AI resilience — 48% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means a moderate share of career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.
What's the top-ranked school for Social Sciences, General?
Our data ranks Merced College first among 21 Social Sciences, General programs. Its score of 77/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($34,168/yr), return on investment, and career durability.
Do Social Sciences, General graduates get a good return on their tuition?
On average, Social Sciences, General graduates earn 88.3x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →