Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $34,541 track close to the $34,392 national median for Sociology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 16.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 8% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Sociology career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $15,000 in median debt against $34,541 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
California State University-San Marcos ranks #74 among 414 Sociology programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 49% earnings increase from $34,541 to $51,480 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.