Social Sciences at William Carey University

A social sciences bachelor's at this private Mississippi institution would likely leave graduates carrying around $27,000 in debt—roughly $20,000 less than the state median for similar programs. That's a meaningful difference in a field where starting salaries hover around $37,500, whether you look at comparable national programs or the one other Mississippi school with reported data.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 suggests manageable repayment, with estimated debt falling below what graduates might earn in their first year. For context, social sciences programs across Mississippi vary considerably, with some saddling students with debt loads exceeding $46,000. Based on peer programs nationally, William Carey's graduates would be looking at monthly loan payments around $280 on a standard plan—about 9% of their gross monthly income, which falls within conventional affordability guidelines.

The uncertainty here matters: with admission standards that suggest selective enrollment and relatively few Pell recipients, this program's actual outcomes could differ from these national estimates. If you're considering this path, the key question is whether your child has concrete plans to leverage a social sciences degree in Mississippi's job market, where opportunities may be more limited than in larger metro areas. The estimated debt burden appears reasonable, but only if there's a clear post-graduation plan that justifies borrowing even this more modest amount.