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Social Sciences, General at New York University

New York, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $49,016/yr (27% vs median)

AI Risk High (45% exposed)

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

ROI 2.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #27 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	$687K	$667K	$604K
Earnings Multiple	2.8x	2.8x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	61%	54%	43%
DegreeOutlook Score	55	54	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$241,752

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$140,140

42% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$74,002

51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $49,016 per year, Social Sciences, General graduates from New York University significantly outpace the $38,652 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The financial case is thin at 2.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $49,016 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #27 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs, New York University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $74,002 show a 51% jump from the $49,016 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About New York University

With just 9% of applicants admitted, New York University ranks among the nation's most selective schools, with 29,430 students enrolled in New York, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $140,140 over four years — 42% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at New York 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 New York 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 New York University?

A score of 54/100 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 $603,831 in decade earnings vs $687,288 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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