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Social Sciences · Social Sciences Rank #3 of 76

Social Sciencesat University of Maryland Global Campus

Graduates earn $50,557/yr in their first year — about 31.0% above the national Social Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $519K; scenarios range from $487K to $522K depending on AI disruption.

Adelphi, MD Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
67 SOLID
68
Optimistic
65
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,557
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$519K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Maryland Global Campus

Your strong earnings potential with this Social Sciences degree from UMGC reflects the practical, career-focused nature of the program, often attracting and retaining students with prior work experience. The flexibility of an online, public institution like UMGC allows you to seamlessly integrate education with professional life, often leading to quicker career progression or salary bumps post-graduation.

Many graduates leverage the critical thinking, research, and data interpretation skills gained to excel in the robust DC-Baltimore job market. You'll find opportunities in government agencies, defense contractors, and large non-profits, where the ability to understand human behavior and societal trends is highly valued in roles spanning project management, policy analysis, and human capital. While some analytical tasks face increasing AI exposure, your success hinges on applying these insights to strategic decision-making and leadership. Focus on honing your quantitative literacy and communication skills to navigate this evolving landscape effectively.

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
$487K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple15.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$519K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple16.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$522K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple16.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Maryland Global Campus'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 University of Maryland Global Campus 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 University of Maryland Global Campus

Other top programs at University of Maryland Global Campus

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland Global Campus, 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 University of Maryland Global Campus

How does University of Maryland Global Campus's Social Sciences program score?

This program scores 67/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Social Sciences graduates.

How vulnerable is Social Sciences to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Social Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of Maryland Global Campus rank so high for Social Sciences?

The #3 ranking out of 76 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.