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Sociology at Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
31 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
31
Optimistic
31
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,317/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #347 of 414 Sociology programs

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 $576K $569K $522K
Earnings Multiple 2.8x 2.8x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 31 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$203,856
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,480
58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,825
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,698
66% growth from Year 1

About Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran University accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 2,350 students in Tacoma, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $85,480 — 58% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Pacific Lutheran University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
Sociology teachers, postsecondary $82,540/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 414 schools offering Sociology →

Sociology at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($64,377) Columbia University in the City of New York ($58,541) Santa Clara University ($53,612) Colgate University ($51,788) Trinity College ($50,077) King's College ($48,529) Barnard College ($48,215) Boston College ($48,091)

Other Majors at Pacific Lutheran University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($81,761) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,055) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($57,683) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($57,624) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($52,919) Chemistry ($44,555) Economics ($43,806) Political Science and Government ($41,518)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Sociology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at Pacific Lutheran University?
A score of 31/100 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 $522,320 in decade earnings vs $576,470 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Pacific Lutheran University a hidden gem for Sociology?
After financial aid, the average student pays $85,480 over four years — 58% below the $203,856 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →