Behavioral Sciences graduates earn $48,673 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $32,105 and $65,920. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
Behavioral Sciences is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Graduates typically earn around $48,673 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. The program is available at 132 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 4,777 students complete this program each year. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$34,613
Median Earnings · 4yr
$48,673
Colleges Offering
132
Graduates / Year
4,777
Avg Net Price / yr
$21,441
How Much Do Behavioral Sciences Graduates Earn?
Behavioral Sciences graduates earn $48,673 four years out, below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $32,105 and $65,920. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $34,613 climbs to $48,673 by year four.
$34,613
1 Year After Graduation
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$48,673
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$48,436
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a moderate earnings spread across Behavioral Sciences graduates. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$32,10525th pct.
$48,673Median
$65,92075th pct.
Understanding the Cost vs. Return
At median 4-year earnings of $48,673 and an estimated $85,764 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 4.6 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 78 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 4,777 students who complete Behavioral Sciences programs each year, the majority (39%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
39%36%
Bachelor's39%
Master's36%
Associate's18%
What Can You Do With a Behavioral Sciences Degree?
Behavioral Sciences connects to 3 occupations in the job market. Social and Community Service Managers leads at $80,390/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Social PerceptivenessService OrientationActive ListeningMonitoringCoordination
Day-to-day responsibilities
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.
Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.
Direct activities of professional and technical staff members and volunteers.
Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as abnormal psychology, cognitive processes, and work motivation.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Reading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningComplex Problem Solving
Day-to-day responsibilities
Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.
Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
Top Colleges for Behavioral Sciences
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Behavioral Sciences students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Behavioral Sciences graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Behavioral Sciences is one of 39 specializations within Interdisciplinary Studies. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Behavioral Sciences program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Behavioral Sciences carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 strengths and 3 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $34,613 at graduation to $48,673 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +6.4% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 27,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $48,673 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($32,105) and 75th ($65,920) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Behavioral Sciences graduates earn a national median of $48,673 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $32,105 and $65,920. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Behavioral Sciences degree?
One year after graduation, Behavioral Sciences degree holders earn a median of $34,613. That climbs to $48,673 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Behavioral Sciences degree?
Behavioral Sciences degree holders pursue careers including Social and Community Service Managers, which pays a median of $80,390/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Behavioral Sciences program take?
A Behavioral Sciences bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.
How many colleges offer Behavioral Sciences?
132 colleges and universities in the United States offer Behavioral Sciences programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Behavioral Sciences degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $48,673 and an average net price of roughly $21,441/yr, a Behavioral Sciences degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Behavioral Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Behavioral Sciences is a focused concentration within the broader Interdisciplinary Studies field. The Interdisciplinary Studies major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Behavioral Sciences-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Behavioral Sciences graduates?
Employers hiring Behavioral Sciences graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
What is the job outlook for Behavioral Sciences graduates?
The job outlook for Behavioral Sciences graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +4.8% job growth over the next 10 years. Social and Community Service Managers is among the strongest-growth roles at +6.4%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Other programs in Interdisciplinary Studies. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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