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Social Sciences, General at Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,217/yr (12% vs median)

AI Risk High (45% exposed)

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

ROI 8.6x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #30 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs Top 50%

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	$506K	$504K	$476K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.6x	8.6x	8.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.1x	6.1x	5.7x
Probability of Field Employment	61%	54%	43%
DegreeOutlook Score	54	53	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$58,512

Out-of-state: $83,280 (6.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,384

-17% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,932

7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,160

16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $43,217/yr, edging above the $38,652 national average for Social Sciences, General — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Social Sciences, General's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,932 represents roughly 7 months of the $43,217 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #30 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs, Grand Valley State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $50,160 are relatively flat compared to the $43,217 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University has a 95% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 19,073 in Allendale, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Grand Valley 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 Grand Valley 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Sciences, General at Grand Valley State University?

A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Sciences, General field.

Will AI replace Social Sciences, General careers?

With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $475,985 in decade earnings vs $505,602 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →