Social Sciences at St. Joseph's University-New York

St. Joseph's University-New York's Social Sciences program starts graduates at $34,488—below both national and New York state medians—but shows solid income growth over the first four years. While the initial earnings lag behind comparable programs, the 33% jump to nearly $46,000 by year four suggests graduates gain traction in the job market. At $24,500 in median debt, borrowing is manageable and slightly below the New York average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0 that most graduates can handle.

The program ranks in the 40th percentile among New York social sciences programs, meaning about 60% of similar programs in the state produce higher early earnings. For context, NYU graduates from this program earn $49,016 initially—42% more—though that comparison involves very different student profiles. What matters more is whether your child can leverage this degree into career growth, and the earnings trajectory here is encouraging.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, which makes these figures less reliable than programs with larger samples. If your child is certain about social sciences and this school feels like the right fit, the debt load won't be crushing. But if they're uncertain about their major or career path, starting $3,000 below the state median matters more, especially in expensive New York City where that first-year salary will stretch thin.