Sociologyat Chicago State University
Graduates earn $42,687/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Sociology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $474K; scenarios range from $448K to $472K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Chicago State University
Graduates earn $42,687/yr, edging above the $34,392 national average for Sociology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.3x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Sociology's typical career paths, with 42% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $31,250 represents roughly 9 months of the $42,687 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #129 of 414 Sociology programs, Chicago State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $44,616 are relatively flat compared to the $42,687 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Chicago State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Sociology
How Chicago State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Chicago State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Chicago State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Sociology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Sociology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Sociology at Chicago State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at Chicago State University?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Sociology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Sociology careers?
With 42% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $448,118 in decade earnings vs $471,764 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.