Behavioral Sciences Degree

18 schools compared · Average earnings $34,440/yr

Students study human behavior through an interdisciplinary lens combining psychology, sociology, anthropology, and neuroscience to understand why people act the way they do. Graduates typically pursue careers in human resources, market research, social services, organizational development, and behavioral health settings. This major provides versatile preparation for any career that requires understanding and influencing human behavior.

What Behavioral Sciences Graduates Do

Your degree in behavioral sciences prepares you for roles centered on understanding and helping people. Many graduates begin as community and social service specialists, working directly with individuals and families to connect them with resources like housing aid or mental health support. Others start as social science research assistants, where you’ll help design studies, manage data sets, and draft reports for senior researchers investigating human behavior.

Career progression often moves from direct service to leadership. That frontline specialist role can evolve into a social and community service manager position, where you’ll oversee entire programs, manage budgets, and lead teams. The research path typically requires further education, leading to roles as licensed psychologists or university professors. While some niche social scientist jobs face headwinds, community-focused management roles are growing steadily.

AI's impact here is moderate but varies by path. Research assistant roles are being reshaped; AI now handles much of the routine data analysis, shifting human value to designing better studies and interpreting complex, AI-generated insights. Conversely, management roles that depend on interpersonal leadership and community trust are more insulated. Your day-to-day tasks will change, but the core need for professionals who can understand and guide human behavior remains strong.

Schools Offering
18
Avg Grad Earnings
$34,440/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
30/100
AI Automation Risk
High
45% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Behavioral Sciences graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 48,400 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Psychologists, all other
$117,580
$74K$145K
3,900 +4.3% 44%
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340
$79K$128K
3,200 -1.7% 52%
Life scientists, all other
$87,800
$66K$124K
400 +3.7% 0%
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
$80,330
$62K$107K
4,000 +3.6% 48%
Social and community service managers
$78,240
$62K$101K
18,600 +6.4% 39%
Social science research assistants
$58,040
$46K$73K
5,200 +4.4% 67%
Community and social service specialists, all other
$54,940
$45K$68K
13,100 +4.6% 0%
Psychologists, all other
$117,580
$74K $145K
3,900 openings/yr +4.3% growth 44% AI risk
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340
$79K $128K
3,200 openings/yr -1.7% growth 52% AI risk
Life scientists, all other
$87,800
$66K $124K
400 openings/yr +3.7% growth 0% AI risk
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
$80,330
$62K $107K
4,000 openings/yr +3.6% growth 48% AI risk
Social and community service managers
$78,240
$62K $101K
18,600 openings/yr +6.4% growth 39% AI risk
Social science research assistants
$58,040
$46K $73K
5,200 openings/yr +4.4% growth 67% AI risk
Community and social service specialists, all other
$54,940
$45K $68K
13,100 openings/yr +4.6% growth 0% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Behavioral Sciences

18 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 Wilmington University
New Castle, DE
37
37–38
$38,937/yr 8.7x
2 University of Phoenix-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
37
37–37
$38,087/yr 10.4x
3 University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
37
38–38
$36,206/yr 9.8x
4 University of Phoenix-California
Ontario, CA
34
34–34
$38,087/yr
5 University of Phoenix-Nevada
Las Vegas, NV
34
34–34
$38,087/yr
6 University of Phoenix-Texas
Dallas, TX
34
34–34
$38,087/yr
7 University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay, WI
33
36–34
$33,439/yr 11.9x
8 Ashford University
San Diego, CA
32
33–32
$37,661/yr 6.9x
9 University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TX
32
35–33
$32,986/yr 9.6x
10 East-West University
Chicago, IL
30
32–31
$37,135/yr 2.6x
11 Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
29
29–29
$38,391/yr 0.4x
12 George Fox University
Newberg, OR
26
28–27
$34,613/yr 2.4x
13 Concordia University-Irvine
Irvine, CA
26
29–27
$31,899/yr 2.7x
14 Purdue University Northwest
Hammond, IN
26
29–27
$28,340/yr 7.4x
15 University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
24
27–25
$28,709/yr 3.9x
16 Life Pacific University
San Dimas, CA
23
27–24
$29,830/yr 2.6x
17 Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, MO
21
25–22
$30,147/yr 1.3x
18 Concordia University-Nebraska
Seward, NE
16
19–16
$29,273/yr 1.4x

Highest Earning Behavioral Sciences Programs

Schools where Behavioral Sciences graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings DW Score
Wilmington University $38,937/yr 37
Franklin and Marshall College $38,391/yr 29
University of Phoenix-Arizona $38,087/yr 37
University of Phoenix-California $38,087/yr 34
University of Phoenix-Nevada $38,087/yr 34
University of Phoenix-Texas $38,087/yr 34
Ashford University $37,661/yr 32
East-West University $37,135/yr 30
University of Kansas $36,206/yr 37
George Fox University $34,613/yr 26

Best ROI for Behavioral Sciences

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Behavioral Sciences.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 11.9x $33,439/yr 33
University of Phoenix-Arizona 10.4x $38,087/yr 37
University of Kansas 9.8x $36,206/yr 37
University of Houston-Clear Lake 9.6x $32,986/yr 32
Wilmington University 8.7x $38,937/yr 37
Purdue University Northwest 7.4x $28,340/yr 26
Ashford University 6.9x $37,661/yr 32
University of California-Santa Cruz 3.9x $28,709/yr 24
Concordia University-Irvine 2.7x $31,899/yr 26
Life Pacific University 2.6x $29,830/yr 23
Want to compare two Behavioral Sciences programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Behavioral Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Behavioral Sciences graduates earn?
Across 18 schools, Behavioral Sciences graduates earn an average of $34,440 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $28,340 to $38,937 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Behavioral Sciences?
Behavioral Sciences is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 45% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means some career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Behavioral Sciences program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Wilmington University ranks #1 for Behavioral Sciences with a score of 37/100 and graduate earnings of $38,937/yr.
What's the outlook for a Behavioral Sciences degree?
On average, Behavioral Sciences graduates earn 5.5x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →