Social Sciences, General bachelor's degree at University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are close to similar programs.
$2,891 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
37.3% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−57% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$67,430
$8,000Annual price−$99,430
$16,000Annual price−$131,430
$21,000Current college-wide context−$151,430
$24,000Annual price−$163,430
$32,000Annual price−$195,430
$40,000Annual price−$227,430
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+97%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$28,844 → $56,927236Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort240Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort326Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median453Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$19,000Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
674Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment146Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers341Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count372Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
6.2%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 42 non-completers298Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,350Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$56,257$21,907 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 57 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$20,995
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$21,000
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$56,257
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$223/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$28,844Year 1
$56,257Year 4
$56,927Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
4.8% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$4,688
Estimated loan payment$223
453borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$56,257 vs. $53,366
$2,891 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Managers, All Other$167,200 median wageNY estimate · 18,470 jobs · 11-9199$124,530–$221,680 middle 50% of NY wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$104,770 median wageNY estimate · 3,410 jobs · 19-3099$82,140–$114,880 middle 50% of NY wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 2,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$79,040 median wageNY estimate · 1,840 jobs · 25-1069$61,040–$102,990 middle 50% of NY wages+1.6% projected U.S. growth · 1,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeStatisticians$136,020 median wageNY estimate · 1,220 jobs · 15-2041$97,820–$174,350 middle 50% of NY wages+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSociologists$106,030 median wageU.S. estimate · 2,260 jobs · 19-3041+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 200 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$97,070 median wageNY estimate · 70,660 jobs · 25-2031$76,050–$131,980 middle 50% of NY wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$61,210 median wageNY estimate · 3,040 jobs · 19-4061$46,280–$79,630 middle 50% of NY wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSociology Teachers, Postsecondary$97,540 median wageNY estimate · 1,130 jobs · 25-1067$75,810–$128,210 middle 50% of NY wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeMiddle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$94,840 median wageNY estimate · 38,670 jobs · 25-2022$75,990–$124,280 middle 50% of NY wages-0.4% projected U.S. growth · 38,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$86,890 median wageNY estimate · 380 jobs · 19-3022$73,290–$106,440 middle 50% of NY wages-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 600 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeElementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$85,760 median wageNY estimate · 101,410 jobs · 25-2021$66,100–$126,930 middle 50% of NY wages-0.4% projected U.S. growth · 87,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
01
Health Care and Social Assistance
about 22.5%02
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 14.4%03
Educational Services
about 13.3%04
Finance and Insurance
about 9.4%05
Public Administration
about 8.1%
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Saratoga Springs, NY
Empire State University
$5,668 higher earnings · $9,319 lower annual net price