Social Sciences at Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University's social sciences graduates earn substantially more than their peers nationally—about $5,500 above the median in their first year—while carrying manageable debt levels. That 74th percentile national ranking is particularly impressive given the school's open-access mission (96% admission rate) and the fact that nearly half of students receive Pell grants. The $35,354 debt load translates to roughly $350-400 in monthly payments, reasonable against a $42,932 starting salary.

The numbers sit right at New Hampshire's median, suggesting this program performs competitively within the state while delivering above-average outcomes compared to the hundreds of social sciences programs nationwide. Earnings grow modestly to $46,694 by year four—not dramatic growth, but steady progress. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 means graduates finish with less than a year's salary in debt, a sustainable position for most borrowers.

For families concerned about combining affordability with solid outcomes, this program threads that needle effectively. SNHU delivers better-than-typical results for social sciences majors without the debt burden that often comes with more selective institutions. If your student is genuinely interested in social sciences and values flexibility (SNHU is known for serving working students), the ROI here justifies the investment.