Social Sciences at Regis University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 sounds manageable on paper, but the story changes when you look at what social sciences graduates earn in Colorado. Based on the single program in the state with reported data—Colorado State University Global—social sciences graduates typically earn $46,384 in their first year, about 24% more than the $37,459 figure estimated from national peer programs. That gap matters when you're carrying nearly $27,000 in debt.

The challenge here isn't just that both earnings and debt figures are estimates—it's that Colorado's social sciences market appears stronger than the national baseline these estimates draw from. If Regis graduates track closer to the state's earning potential, the debt becomes more manageable. But if they fall in line with the national median (which these estimates assume), graduates would be starting $9,000 behind their Colorado peers while carrying above-average debt for a bachelor's degree.

With 87% of applicants admitted and a quarter of students on Pell grants, Regis serves a broad population. Before committing, press the school for actual outcomes data for recent graduates in this specific program—where they're working, what they're earning, and whether the Colorado advantage materializes. Without that clarity, you're betting on an estimate that may not reflect the local reality.