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Social Sciences · Social Sciences Rank #33 of 76

Social Sciencesat Southern Oregon University

Graduates earn $41,835/yr in their first year — about 8.0% above the national Social Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $486K; scenarios range from $461K to $485K depending on AI disruption.

Ashland, OR Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
52 AVERAGE
53
Optimistic
52
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,835
1-year post-graduation
ROI
7.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$486K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Southern Oregon University

Southern Oregon University's Social Sciences graduates start at $41,835/yr — above the $38,652 national average, though not by a wide margin.

A 10.0x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 5% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Social Sciences career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

A #33 ranking among 76 Social Sciences programs places Southern Oregon University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$461K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple9.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$486K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple10.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$485K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple10.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Southern Oregon University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Social Sciences graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
3
Sociologists
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$101,690/yr
High
4
Social scientists and related workers, all other
-1.7% 10-yr growth · 3,200 openings/yr
$100,340/yr
High
5
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$82,540/yr
Moderate
6
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$75,040/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Social Sciences

How Southern Oregon University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Mercer University
GA · Private nonprofit
56
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
Vanderbilt University
TN · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
2.5x
ROI
Top score
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
WA · Public
76
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
15.3x
ROI
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
58
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
Upper Iowa University
IA · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
4.7x
ROI
Also at Southern Oregon University

Other top programs at Southern Oregon University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Oregon 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Social Sciences at Southern Oregon University

What does a 52/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Social Sciences at Southern Oregon University?

At 52/100, Southern Oregon University's Social Sciences program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Social Sciences at Southern Oregon University?

The 45% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.