Social Sciences at Eastern Oregon University

Eastern Oregon University's Social Sciences graduates start at $42,347—well above the national median of $36,279 and ranking in the 76th percentile nationally. That's a solid launch for a liberal arts degree. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically with more data, and there's a puzzling 7% earnings decline by year four to $39,241. This backward trajectory is unusual and worth understanding before committing.

The debt picture is notably favorable. At $29,750, graduates carry manageable loans—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more. The 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than what they'll earn in their first year, a threshold that suggests reasonable repayment prospects. With 36% of students receiving Pell grants, this accessibility combined with lower debt matters for families without deep pockets.

The key limitation here is data reliability. As the only Social Sciences program reporting Oregon state data, we can't gauge how Eastern Oregon stacks up against regional competitors. If your student is genuinely interested in social sciences and wants to stay in Oregon, this program shows promise—but recognize you're making this decision with limited information about both the program's stability and local job market outcomes.