Social Sciences at Tulsa Community College

Tulsa Community College's Social Sciences associate's program lands squarely in the middle of Oklahoma's offerings—literally at the state median for both earnings ($34,203) and debt ($12,625). But zoom out nationally, and the picture brightens considerably: graduates here earn more than 95% of comparable programs across the country, pulling in roughly $8,000 above the national median. The debt load, while higher than the national average, translates to a manageable 0.37 ratio to first-year earnings.

The concern is what happens next. Earnings essentially flatline between years one and four, dropping slightly to $33,824. For an associate's degree that's often meant as a stepping stone—either to work or a bachelor's program—this stagnation matters. Social science associate's degrees don't typically lead to linear career paths, and these numbers reflect that reality. The positive spin: nearly one-third of students start with essentially no debt burden given federal aid, and those who do borrow aren't facing crushing repayment schedules.

For parents, this comes down to next steps. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year program quickly, this represents affordable preparation that won't derail their finances. If they're stopping at the associate's level hoping for immediate career momentum, that $34,000 salary ceiling deserves a hard look.