Social Sciences at Lewis-Clark State College

A bachelor's in social sciences from Lewis-Clark State College looks manageable on paper, with estimated debt around $22,000—about $3,400 below the national median for these programs—and first-year earnings typical of what social science graduates nationwide report. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 suggests graduates could theoretically pay off loans within a year or two of modest living, which is reasonable for a bachelor's degree. However, these figures come from national comparables rather than tracked outcomes of actual Lewis-Clark graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether this specific program delivers those results.

The challenge with social sciences degrees generally is that first-year earnings around $36,000 require careful career planning. Many graduates need graduate school for their target careers, which adds debt and delays earnings. Others find their degree serves as a general credential rather than direct career preparation. For families watching costs closely, Lewis-Clark's relatively low estimated debt load is the strongest point in its favor—it keeps options open without saddling graduates with payments that force immediate high-earning career choices.

The smart move here is treating this as a foundation that needs a clear next step, whether that's graduate school, a specific job market, or building skills through internships. The estimated numbers suggest Lewis-Clark won't overburden your child with debt, but the broad nature of social sciences means the degree's value depends heavily on how intentionally they use it.