Social Sciences at Washington State University
Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Social Sciences, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
61
Optimistic
60
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,069/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk
High (45% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)
ROI
11.0x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)
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 | $579K | $570K | $528K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.1x | 11.0x | 10.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.0x | 4.9x | 4.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 61% | 54% | 43% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 61 | 60 | 60 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,988
Out-of-state: $116,292 (4.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,551
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,442
38% growth from Year 1
About Washington State University
With 85% of applicants admitted, Washington State University prioritizes broad access, with 21,583 students enrolled in Pullman, WA.
See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Statisticians
$103,300/yr
Sociologists
$101,690/yr
Compare & Explore
Social Sciences at Other Schools
Other Majors at Washington State University
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Washington State University's Social Sciences program score?
This program scores 60/100, 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 Washington State University rank so high for Social Sciences?
The #12 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →