Social Sciences at University of Central Florida

UCF's social sciences program sits right at the median for Florida graduates in this field, though it lags the national average by about $3,200 in first-year earnings. With just $34,209 starting out, these graduates earn less than three-quarters of social sciences programs nationwide—but importantly, they're doing about as well as their counterparts across Florida. The relatively moderate debt load of $26,800 yields a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under a year of gross earnings.

The critical caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, which makes these numbers less reliable than programs with larger cohorts. Still, the pattern is clear: this isn't a standout program even within Florida, where University of West Florida graduates earn $3,300 more right out of the gate. For a selective institution (40% admission rate, 1277 SAT average), these outcomes are underwhelming.

If your child is drawn to social sciences, this program won't create a debt crisis, but it's unlikely to deliver a financial edge. The real question is whether UCF's specific resources—its large alumni network, Orlando's job market, or particular faculty—justify choosing this over higher-performing alternatives like UWF. Without those compelling reasons, the numbers suggest looking elsewhere.