Social Sciences at Oregon State University

Oregon State's Social Sciences program produces first-year earnings of $35,590—perfectly matching the state median but trailing the national benchmark by nearly $2,000. While this lands in the 60th percentile among Oregon programs, it places in just the 34th percentile nationally, suggesting graduates face a competitive disadvantage when compared to peers across the country. The University of Oregon and Southern Oregon University both report significantly stronger outcomes for similar degrees in-state.

The estimated debt of $26,084, based on comparable programs at Oregon State, translates to a manageable 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's roughly nine months of first-year salary—not alarming, but hardly impressive for a four-year investment. Similar programs nationally carry about $25,500 in debt, meaning Oregon State graduates are taking on slightly more burden for below-average returns. The real question becomes whether this particular Social Sciences curriculum offers networking, internship opportunities, or specialized coursework that could accelerate career advancement beyond that modest starting point.

The practical takeaway: this program appears to deliver middle-of-the-road results in Oregon but falls short when measured against the broader national landscape. If your child has options at University of Oregon or Southern Oregon, the earnings gap warrants serious consideration. If Oregon State is the choice, focus on what concentration within Social Sciences they'll pursue and what experiential learning they can access to push past that $35,590 starting salary.