Home › California State University-Stanislaus › Sociology

Sociology at California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,919/yr (-19% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

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

ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #196 of 414 Sociology programs Top 50%

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	$534K	$531K	$493K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.1x	17.0x	15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.8x	6.7x	6.2x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	39	39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$31,304

Out-of-state: $78,824 (6.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$22,684

28% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$10,971

4.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,633

78% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Stanislaus's Sociology graduates start at $27,919/yr, trailing the $34,392 national average by 19%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 17.0x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $10,971 in median debt clears quickly against $27,919 in annual earnings.

Ranked #196 out of 414 programs, California State University-Stanislaus's Sociology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $27,919 to $49,633 over five years (78% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Stanislaus

A 97% acceptance rate means California State University-Stanislaus is accessible to most applicants, serving 8,564 students in Turlock, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 55% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

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

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-Stanislaus

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Stanislaus's Sociology program score?

This program scores 39/100 — 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 are Sociology earnings lower at California State University-Stanislaus?

Lower starting pay at California State University-Stanislaus may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →