Social Sciences at Wartburg College

A bachelor's in social sciences from Wartburg comes with an estimated $26,975 in debt—roughly in line with what graduates typically carry at similar private colleges. But the earnings picture based on comparable programs nationally suggests first-year wages around $37,459, which creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That's manageable by federal standards, though it means carrying debt equal to nearly nine months of gross income right out of the gate.

The concern here is Iowa-specific. Other social sciences programs in the state—admittedly few in number—show median earnings above $56,000, suggesting Wartburg's graduates may not be capturing the same opportunities that exist elsewhere in Iowa's job market. Whether that's due to geographic placement, employer networks, or career services support isn't clear from the data, but the gap is substantial enough to warrant direct questions about where recent graduates actually land jobs and what sectors they enter.

For a family weighing this investment, the key question is whether Wartburg's particular strengths—its small-school environment, its career advising, its alumni network—can help your student beat these peer-program estimates. Given the wide range of outcomes in social sciences generally, individual hustle matters enormously. Press the admissions office for specifics: employment rates by sector, geographic placement patterns, and whether graduates stay in Iowa or leave for stronger markets.