Social Sciences at Rockhurst University

A Bachelor's in Social Sciences typically generates first-year earnings around $37,500 nationally, and Rockhurst's estimated outcomes align closely with this benchmark. With estimated debt of about $27,000—actually below the national median of $25,500 for this major—the financial equation looks more manageable than many peer programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 suggests graduates could reasonably handle loan payments, though it's worth noting that social sciences is a broad field where specific career paths matter enormously for long-term earnings.

What makes these estimates particularly uncertain for Rockhurst is the lack of program-specific data. In Missouri, social sciences programs show considerable variation, with median debt at some schools reaching $34,000. Rockhurst's selective admissions (69% acceptance rate, 1218 SAT average) and relatively affluent student body (only 19% on Pell grants) might mean better career networking and outcomes than peer programs suggest, but that's speculative. The estimates here come from national medians across dozens of similar programs—not actual tracking of Rockhurst graduates.

For a private university, keeping debt under $27,000 would be noteworthy, but remember these are projected figures based on institutional patterns, not verified graduate outcomes. If your child is considering social sciences, push the school for any graduate survey data or career placement information they track internally, and have honest conversations about specific career goals within this broad field.