Social Sciences at Webster University

Webster University's Social Sciences bachelor's falls right in the middle of national outcomes—peer programs typically place first-year graduates around $37,500. With an estimated debt load of $27,000, that translates to a 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio, which sits in workable territory. You'd be paying back roughly 72% of a year's starting salary, manageable compared to many liberal arts programs that can push past 1.0.

What makes this math work is the debt figure. Similar programs nationally carry a median debt of $25,500, and Missouri programs specifically average $34,400, so Webster's estimated $27,000 sits comfortably in between. Combined with earnings that match both state and national benchmarks, this suggests a program delivering standard outcomes at a reasonable cost. Social sciences degrees don't typically command high starting salaries—that $37,000 figure is consistent with what these majors earn across the board—but the relatively contained borrowing keeps the financial burden realistic.

The caveat: these figures are composites from comparable programs since Webster's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report. That means uncertainty about whether this specific program performs above or below these benchmarks. For a parent weighing this investment, the estimated numbers suggest neither a standout opportunity nor a cautionary tale—just a conventional social sciences degree at a conventional price point.