Sociology at James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,946
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,440
79% growth from Year 1
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
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 →