Home › Salisbury University › Sociology

Sociology at Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
35
Optimistic
35
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,091/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 10.3x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #270 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 $433K $438K $421K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.2x 10.3x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 5.1x 4.9x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 35 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$42,552
Out-of-state: $85,328 (5.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,824
-55% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$48,947
53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $32,091/yr, roughly in line with the $34,392 national median for Sociology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.3x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,000 debt-to-$32,091 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #270 out of 414 programs, Salisbury University's financial outcomes for Sociology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Salisbury University

Salisbury University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 6,056 students in Salisbury, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at Salisbury 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 Salisbury University

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($80,088) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,477) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($67,679) Accounting and Related Services ($62,889) Information Science/Studies ($61,290) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($59,653) Finance and Financial Management Services ($54,776) Physics ($54,548)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Sociology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does Salisbury University's Sociology program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Sociology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →