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Sociology at CUNY York College

Jamaica, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,515/yr (18% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

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

ROI 18.0x earnings multiple (8.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #10 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	$532K	$529K	$491K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.1x	18.0x	16.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.7x	8.6x	8.0x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	54	54	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)

$29,432

Out-of-state: $61,232 (8.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$18,936

36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$10,450

3.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,250

34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,515/yr, edging above the $34,392 national average for Sociology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.0x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

At $10,450 in median debt against $40,515 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #10 of 414 nationally, this is a top-5% Sociology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $40,515 to $54,250 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About CUNY York College

With a 59% acceptance rate, CUNY York College is moderately selective, with a smaller student body of 4,439 in Jamaica, NY. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $18,936 over four years — 36% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY York 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

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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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at CUNY York College?

A score of 54/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Sociology field.

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 $490,883 in decade earnings vs $532,108 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes CUNY York College's Sociology program stand out?

Ranked #10 of 414 programs nationally, CUNY York College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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