Sociology at Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,547/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk
High (42% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI
9.4x earnings multiple (7.9x out-of-state)
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 | $505K | $504K | $471K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.4x | 9.4x | 8.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.9x | 7.9x | 7.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 44% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 44 | 43 | 40 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,612
Out-of-state: $63,516 (7.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,650
26% growth from Year 1
About Eastern Illinois University
A 68% admission rate makes Eastern Illinois University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 4,398 students in Charleston, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at Eastern Illinois University →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Sociologists
$101,690/yr
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
$82,540/yr
Compare & Explore
Sociology at Other Schools
Other Majors at Eastern Illinois University
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 Eastern Illinois 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 $471,427 in decade earnings vs $504,653 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →