Social Sciences at University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, 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 $45,687/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)
ROI 15.9x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs Top 10%

Program Analysis

It’s impressive that this program ranks so highly, and your strong earnings potential here is a direct result of Houston's dynamic and diverse economy. As a major hub for energy, healthcare, and logistics, the city consistently demands professionals with sharp analytical, research, and communication skills—all core to a social sciences degree. You'll find opportunities beyond traditional academic paths, especially in market research, human resources, urban planning, or policy analysis for local government agencies, large corporations, and non-profits like Texas Medical Center institutions. While some analytical tasks are evolving, your human-centric problem-solving and qualitative research skills become even more valuable in roles requiring strategic thinking or understanding complex human behavior. To maximize your prospects, actively seek internships within Houston in your area of interest to gain practical experience and build your local professional network.

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 $488K $489K $464K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.8x 15.9x 15.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.9x 6.9x 6.5x
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)
$30,832
Out-of-state: $71,152 (6.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,492
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,452
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,194
5% growth from Year 1

About University of Houston-Downtown

With 91% of applicants admitted, University of Houston-Downtown prioritizes broad access, serving 12,812 students in Houston, TX. With 52% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston-Downtown →

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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Houston-Downtown

Consider the Trade Route?

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Sciences at University of Houston-Downtown?
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 $463,858 in decade earnings vs $488,364 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →