Social Sciences at University of La Verne

Similar Social Sciences programs across California suggest first-year earnings around $42,500—a figure that aligns with the state median but means shouldering debt that's more than double what most California graduates in this field take on. At $36,519, University of La Verne's median debt sits in the bottom 5th percentile nationally, higher than all but a handful of programs in the country, while the state median for this major is just $17,000.

The earnings estimate itself isn't alarming—it matches what comparable programs produce and sits above the national median. But the debt load transforms an otherwise reasonable outcome into a financial stretch. Nearly half of La Verne's students receive Pell grants, suggesting many families are already managing tight finances; graduating with twice the typical California debt burden in this field means those first few years after graduation will likely be dominated by loan payments rather than building savings or financial stability.

The fundamental question is whether your child could access a similar Social Sciences program with significantly less debt. UC Riverside's graduates, for instance, earn nearly the same but typically carry half the debt burden. Without knowing why La Verne's specific outcomes differ from these estimates, you're making a bet based on peer programs while taking on debt that's very real and quite high for this field.