Social Sciences at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

The national benchmark of $36,279 in first-year earnings positions this program right at the median for social sciences bachelor's degrees across the country—a solid starting point, though notably below what graduates from Boston University's program earn. With estimated debt around $22,116, UMass Amherst appears to offer better value than many peers, coming in roughly $3,400 below the national median debt load for this field.

The 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, meaning graduates would owe less than two-thirds of their first-year salary. This compares favorably to many social sciences programs, where debt can easily equal or exceed annual starting salaries. The combination of a competitive state flagship education and below-average borrowing could make this program more accessible than private alternatives, though the earnings estimate doesn't suggest any Massachusetts advantage—the state median sits virtually identical to the national figure at $35,536.

For families weighing this investment, the key uncertainty is how UMass Amherst's actual outcomes compare to these peer-program estimates. The institution's solid academic profile (1393 average SAT) suggests it could perform above the median, but without school-specific data, that remains speculative. If your student is considering graduate school or fields where the bachelor's degree is just an entry point, keeping undergraduate debt under $23,000 provides valuable flexibility for what comes next.