Social Sciencesat New York University
Graduates earn $49,016/yr in their first year — about 27.0% above the national Social Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $667K; scenarios range from $604K to $687K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at New York University
Studying Social Sciences at NYU means you're immersed in a dynamic intellectual environment with unparalleled access to career opportunities in New York City. Your degree here isn't just about theory; it's about developing critical thinking, research, and communication skills highly valued across diverse sectors like consulting, market research, urban planning, and non-profits. Many graduates leverage their broad analytical foundation to excel in management roles, applying their understanding of human behavior and societal structures in corporate or governmental settings.
The program's strong reputation and the extensive alumni network often provide a significant advantage in securing internships and entry-level positions, accelerating your career trajectory. However, with the rising impact of AI, many analytical and research tasks within these fields are evolving. Therefore, actively seek out opportunities to develop data science, computational, or specialized analytical skills, ensuring you complement your robust social science foundation with in-demand technical proficiencies.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to New York University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Social Sciences
How New York University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at New York University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at New York University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Social Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Social Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Social Sciences at New York University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Sciences 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 field.
Will AI replace Social Sciences 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.