Sociology at Purdue University-Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,826/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk
High (42% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI
13.2x earnings multiple (4.6x 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 | $533K | $529K | $491K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.3x | 13.2x | 12.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 44% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 47 | 47 | 44 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (4.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,174
44% growth from Year 1
About Purdue University-Main Campus
A 50% admission rate makes Purdue University-Main Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 39,637 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN.
See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →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 Purdue University-Main Campus
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 Purdue University-Main Campus?
A score of 47/100 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 $491,287 in decade earnings vs $532,677 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Purdue University-Main Campus's Sociology program stand out?
Ranked #73 of 414 programs nationally, Purdue University-Main Campus lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →