Social Sciences at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

The debt burden here deserves careful attention. Based on comparable programs nationally, graduates face an estimated $27,000 in debt against first-year earnings around $37,500—a 0.72 ratio that translates to roughly nine months of gross pay. For a school serving a predominantly working-class student body (51% Pell recipients), that's a meaningful financial commitment, especially when social sciences degrees often require graduate education for higher-paying career paths.

Similar bachelor's programs in social sciences nationally produce median earnings of $37,500, suggesting Saint Mary-of-the-Woods likely falls right in the mainstream rather than offering any earnings advantage. The debt estimate, derived from peer institutions of this type, sits slightly above the national median of $25,500 for this field. That gap matters when entry-level earnings are modest—every additional thousand dollars of debt extends the repayment timeline.

For families weighing this program, the core question is whether the specific social science concentration and career pathway justify near-median debt for near-median pay. If your child plans to enter the workforce immediately after graduation, budget for several years of careful financial management. If graduate school is the next step, factor in additional borrowing. The numbers suggest this works best for students with clear career direction and realistic expectations about social sciences earnings trajectories.