Social Sciences at Towson University

With a small sample size flagging caution, Towson's Social Sciences bachelor's shows a middling but manageable financial picture. First-year earnings of $37,934 land near the national median but trail Maryland's state median by $6,300—placing this program in just the 40th percentile among the five Maryland schools offering this degree. That gap matters: your child would start roughly 15% behind the typical Maryland social sciences graduate, with University of Maryland Global Campus graduates earning $12,600 more in year one.

The debt load of $20,000 is actually lower than both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 that's reasonable for a social sciences degree. However, the 84th percentile debt ranking nationally (meaning 84% of programs carry less debt) suggests borrowing here runs higher than at most comparable programs, even if the absolute number seems modest. For context, the national median debt for this field is $25,500, so Towson students are borrowing $5,500 less than typical.

The tradeoff is straightforward: lighter debt but also lighter earnings within Maryland's market. If your child plans to stay in-state, understand they'll likely start behind peers from other Maryland programs. The accessible 83% admission rate and moderate debt make this a low-risk option, but the below-median state earnings suggest better value exists elsewhere in Maryland for social sciences majors.