Sociologyat Minnesota State University-Mankato
Graduates earn $42,108/yr in their first year — about 22.0% above the national Sociology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $520K; scenarios range from $484K to $523K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Minnesota State University-Mankato
At $42,108 per year, Sociology graduates from Minnesota State University-Mankato earn slightly above the $34,392 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The 13.7x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $25,625 debt-to-$42,108 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #18 out of 414 programs, Minnesota State University-Mankato's Sociology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,108 to $53,226 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Minnesota State University-Mankato's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Sociology
How Minnesota State University-Mankato stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Minnesota State University-Mankato
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Minnesota State University-Mankato, 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 →Frequently asked about Sociology at Minnesota State University-Mankato
How does Minnesota State University-Mankato's Sociology program score?
This program scores 52/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Sociology graduates.
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 does Minnesota State University-Mankato rank so high for Sociology?
The #18 ranking out of 414 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.