Social Sciences at St. Andrews University

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 looks manageable on paper, but the reality is cloudier than the numbers suggest. Based on comparable social sciences programs in North Carolina, first-year earnings hover around $39,000—essentially at the state median—while estimated borrowing of roughly $27,000 sits below both state and national typical debt loads for this field. That's better than many peers, though it's worth noting that half the student body receives Pell grants, meaning affordability matters deeply here.

The challenge is that these figures are stitched together from peer programs, not actual outcomes from St. Andrews graduates. Social sciences is notoriously broad—covering everything from sociology to political science—and career trajectories vary wildly depending on whether graduates pursue nonprofit work, government positions, or corporate roles. Some North Carolina programs in this field report considerably higher earnings (Campbell hits $50,000), while others cluster closer to $36,000, suggesting institutional factors and local employment networks make a real difference.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated numbers suggest a workable financial picture if—and this is critical—your child's actual outcomes align with state medians. But without program-specific data, you're making a decision with less certainty than you'd have elsewhere. If affordability is paramount and your child has clear career goals that social sciences supports, the debt load appears reasonable. If you're hoping for stronger earning potential right out of college, programs with documented higher outcomes exist in the state.