Social Sciences at Tulane University of Louisiana

Tulane's social sciences program carries a significant warning label: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers may not reflect typical outcomes. That said, the pattern is concerning enough to warrant serious consideration before taking on $47,000 in debt—nearly double the national median for this major.

The earnings trajectory moves in the wrong direction. Graduates start at $37,472, which seems reasonable, but by year four they're earning $33,606—a 10% decline when you'd expect growth. This positions Tulane at the median nationally but in the 60th percentile among Louisiana's limited pool of social sciences programs. The debt burden stands out more dramatically: Tulane ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs leave students with less debt. At a 1.25 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one, graduates face paying back more than their entire annual salary.

For a highly selective university (15% admission rate, 1443 average SAT), these outcomes raise questions about return on investment. The small sample size might mean we're missing something, but the combination of declining earnings and elevated debt is hard to justify at face value. If your child is set on social sciences at Tulane, push for clarity on career support and typical graduate paths—and consider whether this investment makes sense when more affordable options exist.