To date, we’ve asked 49 current and past social science students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it average.

Different majors will offer different opportunities.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a social science degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:

  • Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
  • Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
  • Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
  • Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
  • Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?

We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a social science degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are social science students compared to other degrees?

Overall, social science students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.2 out of 5. This is standard compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, social science students rate their happiness similarly to students in Geological Sciences, Cinema Studies and Mechanical Engineering.

Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to social science

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Computer Software Engineering$100,859
Entertainment and Media Management$64,500
Cinema Studies$55,215
Social Science$61,638
Geological Sciences$71,601
Mechanical Engineering$90,056
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$59,509
Engineering$100,886

Let's break that down further.

Are social science students satisfied with what they’re learning?

We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:

We asked graduates how interesting they found the course material to be. Their response was:
3.8 out of 5 stars
56 ratings
5 stars
30%
4 stars
39%
3 stars
16%
2 stars
13%
1 stars
2%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
3.9 out of 5 stars
56 ratings
5 stars
32%
4 stars
41%
3 stars
11%
2 stars
14%
1 stars
2%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in social science experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.

Did social science graduates leave school with good job prospects?

Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what social science grads had to say about their job prospects:

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
2.6 out of 5 stars
54 ratings
5 stars
2%
4 stars
19%
3 stars
35%
2 stars
28%
1 stars
17%

These responses represent a wide range of opinions. Things like extracurricular activities, internships and work placements can set you up for success after graduation.

Were social science students happy with their degree overall?

This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their degree as a whole. Their response was:
3.2 out of 5 stars
49 ratings
5 stars
16%
4 stars
24%
3 stars
31%
2 stars
16%
1 stars
12%

As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.

Salary

Find out what graduates typically earn.

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