Social Sciences at Central Michigan University

Central Michigan's social sciences program shows something many parents don't expect from a liberal arts degree: strong earnings momentum that takes graduates from below-average to solidly middle-class within four years. That $37,400 starting salary jumps 41% to nearly $53,000 by year four, substantially outpacing the typical trajectory for this field. Among Michigan's social sciences programs, CMU ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings—a meaningful edge in a state where the median graduate in this major earns just under $33,000.

The financial setup is encouraging. With $27,000 in debt against first-year earnings of $37,400, graduates face a manageable 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio. More importantly, that debt sits in the 25th percentile nationally—meaning three-quarters of social sciences programs leave students with heavier loan burdens. By year four, when earnings approach $53,000, the debt becomes quite manageable for most career paths.

The practical reality: this isn't a program for quick financial wins, but it builds a foundation that improves considerably with experience. For a student genuinely interested in social sciences who wants to stay in Michigan, CMU offers better-than-average outcomes at a lower debt cost than most alternatives. Just understand that patience matters—the real payoff comes several years out, not at graduation.