Compare 9 Science, Technology and Society. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $65,299. Top programs: $107,375+.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Science, Technology and Society tells a different story. Across 9 programs, earnings range from $27,215 to $107,375—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation. A $80K spread across nine schools is a signal: where you study this field matters far more than which school's name is on your diploma.
Topping the list, Stanford's Science, Technology and Society program delivers $107,375 in median earnings—well above the $65,299 average across all ranked programs. But the more telling data point is James Madison University, a public school in Virginia, where graduates earn $82,455. JMU outearns Georgetown ($89,228 ranks second) on accessibility alone—71% admission rate versus Georgetown's 13%.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Stanford graduates borrow just $12,000 in student loans and face a 1.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Georgetown is nearly as clean at 3.2%. By contrast, James Madison's hidden-gem status comes with a 4.6% student burden—still 'Excellent'—though family burden climbs to 14.4% when parent loans enter the picture. Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $107,375 | 40 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Good |
| #2 | Georgetown UniversityPrivate | $89,228 | 84 | $15,500 | Excellent | $33,944 | Good |
| #3 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $82,455 | 82 | $20,093 | Excellent | $37,285 | Manageable |
| #4 | $67,468 | 55 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $65,454 | 47 | $21,672 | Excellent | $32,216 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $54,746 | 267 | $14,718 | Excellent | $18,349 | Manageable | |
| #7 | Beloit CollegePrivate | $53,760 | 7 | $25,738 | Good | $32,004 | High |
| #8 | $39,993 | 17 | — | — | — | — | |
| #9 | Vassar CollegePrivate | $27,215 | 18 | — | — | — | — |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
