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Sociology at California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,093/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)

ROI 18.9x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #48 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	$541K	$537K	$497K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.1x	18.9x	17.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.1x	7.1x	6.6x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$28,380

Out-of-state: $75,900 (7.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$30,396

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$12,500

4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,371

57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $34,093/yr, Sociology graduates from California State University-Northridge land near the $34,392 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 18.9x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $12,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #48 out of 414 programs, California State University-Northridge's Sociology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $34,093 to $53,371 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Northridge

With 93% of applicants admitted, California State University-Northridge prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 32,357 students in Northridge, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

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

Sociology at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Northridge

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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-Northridge's Sociology program score?

This program scores 48/100 — 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-Northridge rank so high for Sociology?

The #48 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 →