Social Sciences at University of Wyoming

University of Wyoming's Social Sciences program operates in a state vacuum—it's the only bachelor's option for social sciences in Wyoming—which makes the numbers both better and worse than they first appear. Graduates earn $32,351 in their first year, roughly $5,000 below the national median for social sciences programs. But within Wyoming's limited higher education landscape, this represents the state standard rather than an underperformer.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $21,246, graduates borrow about $4,000 less than the national median, producing a manageable 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means roughly eight months of first-year salary would cover the debt—not ideal, but workable for a social sciences degree. Earnings do climb 22% by year four, reaching $39,407, though this still trails national social sciences medians.

For Wyoming families, this program makes sense primarily if staying in-state matters for tuition purposes or if other factors (family obligations, job ties) keep a student near home. Students aiming for careers in higher-paying metro areas might find better launching pads at out-of-state programs where first-year earnings start $5,000-$10,000 higher. The real question is whether Wyoming's lower living costs offset the earnings gap—for many rural Wyoming careers, they likely do. For those planning to relocate after graduation, the regional earnings ceiling may feel limiting.