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Social Sciences · Sociology Rank #14 of 414

Sociologyat Minnesota State University Moorhead

Graduates earn $42,984/yr in their first year — about 25.0% above the national Sociology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $538K; scenarios range from $498K to $542K depending on AI disruption.

Moorhead, MN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
53 AVERAGE
54
Optimistic
49
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,984
1-year post-graduation
ROI
12.7x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$538K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Minnesota State University Moorhead

Graduates earn $42,984/yr, edging above the $34,392 national average for Sociology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Sociology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Sociology's typical career paths, with 42% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $42,984 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #14 of 414 nationally, this is a top-5% Sociology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $42,984 to $56,526 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

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
$498K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple12.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$538K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple13.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$542K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple13.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Minnesota State University Moorhead'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 Minnesota State University Moorhead 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 Minnesota State University Moorhead

Other top programs at Minnesota State University Moorhead

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Minnesota State University Moorhead, 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 Minnesota State University Moorhead

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at Minnesota State University Moorhead?

A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Sociology field.

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 $498,069 in decade earnings vs $542,250 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Minnesota State University Moorhead's Sociology program stand out?

Ranked #14 of 414 programs nationally, Minnesota State University Moorhead lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.