Sociology at CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,246/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 20.5x earnings multiple (9.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #53 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 $618K $607K $552K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.9x 20.5x 18.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.1x 9.9x 9.0x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,528
Out-of-state: $61,328 (9.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$9,784
67% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,245
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,050
102% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,246/yr, roughly in line with the $34,392 national median for Sociology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Sociology programs nationally.

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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $30,246 far exceeding the $10,245 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #53 of 414 nationally, this is a top-5% Sociology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $61,050 show a 102% jump from the $30,246 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About CUNY Hunter College

A 54% admission rate makes CUNY Hunter College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, enrolling 16,642 students in New York, NY. With 55% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $9,784 over four years — 67% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY Hunter College →

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 CUNY Hunter College

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at CUNY Hunter College?
A score of 48/100 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 $551,661 in decade earnings vs $617,869 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes CUNY Hunter College's Sociology program stand out?
Ranked #53 of 414 programs nationally, CUNY Hunter College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is CUNY Hunter College a hidden gem for Sociology?
After financial aid, the average student pays $9,784 over four years — 67% below the $29,528 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →