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Social Sciences Studies at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Social Sciences, Other
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
50
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,934/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (33% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (111,400 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 of 33 Social Sciences, Other programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $612K $602K $561K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.8x 10.6x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 3.3x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 57% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 50 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,680
Out-of-state: $179,788 (3.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,828
3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,583
5.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,806
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,934/yr, edging above the $37,190 national average for Social Sciences Studies — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 33% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $16,583 in median debt against $39,934 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #7 out of 33 programs, University of California-Riverside's Social Sciences Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $39,934 to $61,806 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Riverside

With a 63% acceptance rate, University of California-Riverside is moderately selective, with 22,644 students enrolled in Riverside, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Riverside →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340/yr
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other $75,040/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 33 schools offering Social Sciences Studies →

Social Sciences Studies at Other Schools

University of California-Berkeley ($61,109) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($54,265) Rutgers University-New Brunswick ($51,753) Boston University ($48,243) Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus ($45,509) University of California-Davis ($45,178) Millersville University of Pennsylvania ($42,844) Eastern Oregon University ($42,347)

Other Majors at University of California-Riverside

Computer Science ($81,034) Information Science/Studies ($76,090) Chemical Engineering ($68,245) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($66,430) Computer Engineering ($65,049) Mechanical Engineering ($62,554) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($61,342) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($59,309)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Social Sciences Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Riverside's Social Sciences Studies program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Social Sciences Studies graduates.
How vulnerable is Social Sciences Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Social Sciences Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 33% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of California-Riverside rank so high for Social Sciences Studies?
The #7 ranking out of 33 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →