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Social Sciences at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Social Sciences, General
62 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
63
Optimistic
62
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,248/yr (22% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)
ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #8 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Social Sciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $518K $516K $485K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.1x 13.1x 12.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.5x 6.5x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 61% 54% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 62 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,436
Out-of-state: $79,756 (6.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$26,000
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,500
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,615
11% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Social Sciences graduates start at $47,248/yr — above the $38,652 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Social Sciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Social Sciences'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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,500 in median debt clears quickly against $47,248 in annual earnings.

At #8 of 76 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Sciences program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $52,615 are relatively flat compared to the $47,248 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

A 85% acceptance rate means The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 27,026 in Edinburg, TX. 64% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. The average net cost of $26,000 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley →

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

Compare this program → View all 76 schools offering Social Sciences →

Social Sciences at Other Schools

Mercer University ($61,612) Vanderbilt University ($61,389) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($57,538) Harvard University ($56,540) Upper Iowa University ($56,221) Campbell University ($50,653) University of Maryland Global Campus ($50,557) New York University ($49,016)

Other Majors at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($77,619) Mechanical Engineering ($60,924) Computer Engineering ($57,841) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($56,421) Music ($56,373) Civil Engineering ($54,182) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($49,910) Mathematics ($47,199)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Social Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Sciences at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?
A score of 62/100 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 $484,903 in decade earnings vs $518,278 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Social Sciences program stand out?
Ranked #8 of 76 programs nationally, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →