Social Sciences at Campbell University

Campbell's Social Sciences program delivers first-year earnings of $50,653—substantially above both the state median of $38,693 and the national median of $37,459. That's an impressive starting point, placing graduates in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile within North Carolina. With estimated debt around $27,000 (based on typical borrowing across Campbell's programs), the initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 suggests a manageable starting position.

The complication arrives by year four, when median earnings drop to $40,273—a 20% decline that's unusual for bachelor's degree holders. This pattern might reflect graduates moving into graduate programs, nonprofit work, or geographic areas with lower costs of living, but it makes the longer-term financial picture harder to predict. Other Social Sciences programs in North Carolina show steadier trajectories, so this earnings dip appears specific to Campbell's outcomes rather than a field-wide trend.

For parents, the strong launch justifies the investment if your student has clear career plans that leverage those early earnings—perhaps in business, government, or roles that value the broad analytical skills this degree provides. The estimated debt load is reasonable enough that even the lower fourth-year figure keeps payments manageable. Just recognize you're betting on outcomes that buck the usual pattern of steady earnings growth, and Campbell's small sample size means these figures come with more uncertainty than you'd see at larger programs with published data.