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Social Sciences · Sociology Rank #402 of 414

Sociologyat Middlebury College

Graduates earn $28,368/yr in their first year — about 18.0% below the national Sociology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $648K; scenarios range from $584K to $663K depending on AI disruption.

Middlebury, VT Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
24 AT RISK
25
Optimistic
23
Pessimistic
Earnings
$28,368
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$648K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Middlebury College

Studying Sociology at Middlebury offers a deep dive into social structures and human behavior, fostering exceptional critical thinking and analytical skills. Given Middlebury's liberal arts focus and rural setting, many graduates initially pursue roles in non-profits, education, social services, or further academic study, which typically offer different compensation trajectories than vocational fields. Your initial earnings reflect this path, emphasizing intellectual growth over immediate high salaries. While some analytical and research tasks within related fields may face automation, the core sociological strengths – understanding complex human systems, ethical reasoning, and nuanced communication – remain highly valuable and inherently human. Many leverage Middlebury's strong alumni network to pivot into diverse fields like consulting, marketing, or public policy after gaining initial experience. To maximize your prospects, actively seek internships that apply your analytical skills in professional settings and consider how your degree can be a foundation for graduate study or specialized certifications.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$584K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score23/100
Earnings Multiple2.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$648K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score24/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$663K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score25/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Middlebury College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Sociology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Sociologists
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$101,690/yr
High
3
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$82,540/yr
Moderate
4
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$75,040/yr
Low
5
Social science research assistants
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 5,200 openings/yr
$58,040/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Sociology

How Middlebury College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
48
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
Top score
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Santa Clara University
CA · Private nonprofit
49
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Colgate University
NY · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Trinity College
CT · Private nonprofit
41
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Also at Middlebury College

Other top programs at Middlebury College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Middlebury College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Sociology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Sociology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Sociology at Middlebury College

How does Middlebury College's Sociology program score?

This program scores 24/100 — 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.

Why are Sociology earnings lower at Middlebury College?

Lower starting pay at Middlebury College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

How affordable is Sociology at Middlebury College after financial aid?

Sticker price is $261,120, but the average net cost is $103,736 — a 60% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.