Science, Technology and Society at Vassar College

A first-year salary of $27,215 from a highly selective institution is genuinely alarming—even accounting for New York's higher cost of living and the program's small sample size. While Vassar graduates typically benefit from strong alumni networks and the college's prestigious reputation, this program lands in the 5th percentile nationally for Science, Technology and Society graduates. That means 95% of comparable programs nationwide produce better initial earnings. The debt load of $18,593 is manageable in absolute terms, but it represents 68 cents for every dollar earned in that first year, a ratio that typically signals financial stress for recent graduates.

The state comparison offers little comfort: at $27,215, these graduates earn less than the New York median of $29,426 for this program, and significantly trail even Farmingdale State College's outcomes at $31,638. For a family paying Vassar's tuition (or taking on debt beyond what's captured here), that's a sobering comparison. The interdisciplinary nature of Science, Technology and Society programs can lead graduates in many directions, which might explain the low initial earnings if many pursue graduate school or nonprofit work. But prospective students should understand they're likely starting well below what peer programs deliver, even at less selective institutions.