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Sociology at California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,350/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 18.4x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #58 of 414 Sociology programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Sociology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $524K $521K $485K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.5x 18.4x 17.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.9x 6.9x 6.4x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 45

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,256
Out-of-state: $75,776 (6.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$14,636
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,939
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,994
48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $34,350/yr, roughly in line with the $34,392 national median for Sociology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 18.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 42% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $34,350 far exceeding the $14,939 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #58 out of 414 programs, California State University-Dominguez Hills's Sociology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $34,350 to $50,994 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Dominguez Hills

California State University-Dominguez Hills accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 12,642 students in Carson, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 61% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. After financial aid, the average student pays $14,636 over four years — 48% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Dominguez Hills →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
Sociology teachers, postsecondary $82,540/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 414 schools offering Sociology →

Sociology at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($64,377) Columbia University in the City of New York ($58,541) Santa Clara University ($53,612) Colgate University ($51,788) Trinity College ($50,077) King's College ($48,529) Barnard College ($48,215) Boston College ($48,091)

Other Majors at California State University-Dominguez Hills

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($110,626) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($49,916) Public Administration ($45,471) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($44,584) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($44,374) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($43,905) Community Organization and Advocacy ($41,991) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($38,798)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Sociology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Dominguez Hills's Sociology program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Sociology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Sociology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Sociology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-Dominguez Hills rank so high for Sociology?
The #58 ranking out of 414 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →