Compare 18 Social Sciences, General. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $40,873.
With top graduates earning $52,781, Social Sciences, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $12K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Central Michigan University's Social Sciences, General. program leads with graduates earning $52,781, well above the $40,873 regional average. Michigan State follows closely at $50,723, demonstrating how regional publics compete effectively in this field. With 18 programs across the Midwest, the variation reflects program quality over institutional brand.
Highest program earnings: $52,781
Strong outcomes with 91% acceptance
10.4% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
22.5% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $52,781 | 70 | $27,000 | Manageable | $23,103 | Challenging | |
| #2 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $52,295 | 10 | $22,500 | Good | $22,900 | Challenging |
| #3 | $50,723 | 129 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High | |
| #4 | $44,033 | 49 | $24,500 | Manageable | $26,392 | High | |
| #5 | Kansas State UniversityPublic | $42,603 | 95 | $21,250 | Manageable | $27,283 | High |
| #6 | $42,509 | 30 | $18,500 | Manageable | $13,480 | Challenging | |
| #7 | Upper Iowa UniversityPrivate | $42,471 | 25 | $25,000 | Manageable | $14,000 | High |
| #8 | $42,357 | 10 | $20,500 | Manageable | $14,500 | High | |
| #9 | Kalamazoo CollegePrivate | $42,198 | 23 | $26,077 | Challenging | $49,500 | High |
| #10 | $41,193 | 8 | $21,977 | Manageable | $15,000 | High | |
| #11 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $40,298 | 18 | $21,500 | Manageable | $24,157 | High |
| #12 | $37,193 | 16 | $21,500 | Challenging | $15,000 | High | |
| #13 | $36,668 | 7 | $18,995 | Challenging | $11,398 | High | |
| #14 | $35,904 | 15 | $22,500 | Challenging | $16,132 | High | |
| #15 | Morningside UniversityPrivate | $35,188 | 14 | $26,028 | High | $14,032 | High |
| #16 | Shawnee State UniversityPublic | $34,938 | 14 | $23,000 | High | $17,366 | High |
| #17 | $34,490 | 19 | $22,057 | High | $14,269 | High | |
| #18 | $27,873 | 15 | $23,000 | High | $11,000 | High |
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 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
