Sociology at Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,193/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk
High (42% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI
9.6x earnings multiple (3.6x 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 | $522K | $520K | $484K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.7x | 9.6x | 9.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.7x | 3.6x | 3.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 44% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 45 | 44 | 41 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,976
Out-of-state: $142,656 (3.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,864
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,350
34% growth from Year 1
About Oregon State University
Oregon State University accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 29,557 in Corvallis, OR.
See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State 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 Oregon State University
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at Oregon State University?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Sociology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $483,933 in decade earnings vs $522,301 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →