Social Sciences at Butte College

Oroville, CA · Public · Associate Degree · Social Sciences, General

with a mid-sized student body of 8,384 in Oroville, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $26,482 track close to the $26,524 national median for Social Sciences programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 151.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Social Sciences programs nationally.

The 36% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 45% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Social Sciences graduates.

At $7,500 in median debt against $26,482 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #5 of 21 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Sciences program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $26,482 to $39,587 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Social Sciences has a registered apprenticeship option through Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer with a median wage of $136,550/yr — worth exploring for students who prefer structured on-the-job training.

71 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
71
Score
73
High End
Earnings $26,482/yr (-0% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (55% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$434K
10.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
162.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
11 of 11
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$2,672
Out-of-state: $16,832
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,500
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,587
49% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Social Sciences graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
Statisticians $103,300 +8.5% 34%
Sociologists $101,690 +3.6% 46%
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
Statisticians
$103,300
+8.5% growth 34% AI-proof
Sociologists
$101,690
+3.6% growth 46% AI-proof

View all 11 career paths with full salary data →

Social Sciences Career Guide

What can you do with a Social Sciences credential from Butte College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Social Sciences career guide →

Compare & Explore

Social Sciences Overview

Social Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at Butte College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Social Sciences at Butte College?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Butte College's Social Sciences graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Should I worry about AI if I study Social Sciences at Butte College?
AI exposure of 45% is a real factor. For Butte College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($433,835) and pessimistic ($277,059) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
How affordable is Social Sciences at Butte College?
At $7,500 in median debt, Social Sciences graduates from Butte College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Why does Butte College rank so high for Social Sciences?
The #5 ranking out of 21 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
How many job openings are there for Social Sciences graduates?
With approximately 318,400 annual openings across mapped careers, Social Sciences offers a very large employment pool. Butte College graduates enter a market shaped by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →