Social Sciences at University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online

A 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable borrowing for this online bachelor's, with estimated first-year earnings of $37,459 against $24,423 in debt based on comparable programs nationally. However, that earnings figure sits notably below New Hampshire's median of $42,932 for social sciences degrees—a gap of over $5,000 that compounds over time. Southern New Hampshire University, the state's largest online provider in this field, reports graduates earning that higher state median, raising questions about whether this program positions students as competitively in the local market.

The lighter debt load compared to New Hampshire's $35,354 median offers some offset, but the earnings shortfall deserves scrutiny. Social sciences degrees often serve as foundations for graduate study or lead to career paths where soft skills and networking matter as much as credentials. For an online program serving working adults—32% of students receive Pell grants—the flexibility may justify accepting below-state-average starting salaries if you're already employed and building on existing experience. But for traditional students without that employment base, entering the workforce $5,000 behind state peers could prove difficult to recover from without additional credentials or strategic career positioning that this program's estimated outcomes don't fully illuminate.