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Sociology at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,040/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

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

ROI 18.4x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #12 of 414 Sociology programs Top 5%

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	$567K	$560K	$516K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.6x	18.4x	17.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.3x	7.2x	6.6x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	53	53	50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$30,408

Out-of-state: $77,928 (7.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$42,048

-38% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,975

4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,159

57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Sacramento's Sociology graduates start at $37,040/yr — above the $34,392 national average, though not by a wide margin.

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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,975 in median debt clears quickly against $37,040 in annual earnings.

Ranked #12 out of 414 programs, California State University-Sacramento's Sociology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $37,040 to $58,159 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Sacramento

A 94% acceptance rate means California State University-Sacramento is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 27,867 students in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

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

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

Compare Sociology

Other Majors at California State University-Sacramento

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-Sacramento's Sociology program score?

This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Sociology graduates.

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-Sacramento rank so high for Sociology?

The #12 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 →