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Sociology: American Public University System vs Columbia University in the City of New York

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY
15.6x
$33,600 tuition
2.6x
$276,180 tuition
$523,808 10-yr earnings · Private for-profit
$731,283 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

American Public University System Columbia University in the City of New York
Earnings Multiple 15.6x 2.6x
4-Year Tuition $33,600 $276,180
Year 1 Earnings $47,633 $58,541
10-Year Earnings $524K $731K
Median Debt $21,693 $27,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.5 months 5.5 months
DegreeWorth Score 57/100 42/100

Both programs have high AI automation risk (42% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Sociology graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Sociology graduates.

American Public University System Columbia University in the City of New York
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $276,180
10-Year Projected Earnings $524K $731K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.6x 2.6x
5-Year Salary Growth +16% +59%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Sociology (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

American Public University System Columbia University in the City of New York
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $527K $524K $487K $755K $731K $649K
Earnings Multiple 15.7x 15.6x 14.5x 2.7x 2.6x 2.3x
DegreeWorth Score 58 57 52 43 42 37

For the full AI analysis of Sociology career paths, see the American Public University System or Columbia University in the City of New York program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Sociology graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap
$242,580
American Public University System saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$10,908/yr
Columbia University in the City of New York grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
15.6x / 2.6x
Earnings multiple (10yr earnings ÷ tuition)

Career Paths

Sociology graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Managers, all other $136,550 106,700 +4.5% 47%
Sociologists $101,690 300 +3.6% 54%
Sociology teachers, postsecondary $82,540 1,100 +2.1% 43%
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other $75,040 1,500 +1.7% 0%
Social science research assistants $58,040 5,200 +4.4% 67%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

Sociology at American Public University System → Sociology at Columbia University in the City of New York →

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Sociology Overview

View all schools offering Sociology →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Sociology: American Public University System or Columbia University in the City of New York?
American Public University System scores 57/100 while Columbia University in the City of New York scores 42/100. American Public University System has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Sociology?
American Public University System has an in-state earnings multiple of 15.6x vs Columbia University in the City of New York's 2.6x. That means American Public University System grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $242,580 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do American Public University System and Columbia University in the City of New York compare on Sociology earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $47,633 at American Public University System vs $58,541 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $523,808 vs $731,283 — a difference of $207,475.
How much does Sociology cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $33,600 at American Public University System and $276,180 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Median debt at graduation is $21,693 vs $27,000. Both programs lead to the same Sociology career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.