Social Sciences at Saint Johns University

Peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $37,500 for social sciences bachelor's graduates—a figure that falls notably short of the $42,000 that similar programs in Minnesota typically produce. That $4,500 gap matters when you're carrying an estimated $27,000 in student debt, which tracks close to what comparable programs report nationally but sits below Minnesota's state median.

The 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio based on these estimates isn't catastrophic, but it points to a challenging first year financially. A social sciences degree from Saint John's comes with certain advantages—smaller class sizes at a selective liberal arts college, strong alumni networks—but without actual earnings data for this specific program, you're essentially betting that Saint John's graduates will match or exceed outcomes at peer institutions. Metropolitan State, the only Minnesota school with reported data in this field, shows graduates earning that higher state median right out of the gate.

The fundamental question is whether Saint John's institutional strengths justify the uncertainty. If your child thrives in close-knit academic environments and plans to leverage the Benedictine network effectively, the estimated debt load is manageable enough to take the risk. But recognize you're making that decision with incomplete information about how *this* program specifically translates into employment outcomes.