Sociology at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
40
Optimistic
40
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,513/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #188 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 $573K $566K $520K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.6x 10.4x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 4.6x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 40 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,304
Out-of-state: $123,160 (4.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$87,264
-61% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,946
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,440
79% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $31,513/yr, roughly in line with the $34,392 national median for Sociology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.4x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,946 debt-to-$31,513 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #188 out of 414 programs, James Madison University's Sociology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $31,513 to $56,440 over five years (79% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About James Madison University

James Madison University accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 20,497 students enrolled in Harrisonburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at James Madison University →

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 James Madison University

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

How does James Madison University's Sociology program score?
This program scores 40/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →