Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $33,190 track close to the $34,392 national median for Sociology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 16.3x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $18,500 debt-to-$33,190 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #72 out of 414 programs, Shepherd University's Sociology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth from $33,190 to $56,868 over five years (71% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.