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Sociology and Anthropology at Southern Oregon University

Ashland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
30
Optimistic
29
Base Case
27
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,702/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (109,400 openings/yr)
ROI 8.6x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 10 Sociology and Anthropology programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Sociology and Anthropology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $409K $418K $406K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.5x 8.6x 8.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.4x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 29 27

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$48,372
Out-of-state: $122,892 (3.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,880
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,500
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $27,702 track close to the $29,310 national median for Sociology and Anthropology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Sociology and Anthropology's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 1% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,500 represents roughly 8 months of the $27,702 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #5 of 10 Sociology and Anthropology programs, Southern Oregon University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Southern Oregon University

Southern Oregon University has a 83% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 2,911 students in Ashland, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Oregon University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary $95,770/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 10 schools offering Sociology and Anthropology →

Sociology and Anthropology at Other Schools

Lafayette College ($43,321) University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth ($34,388) College of Staten Island CUNY ($34,139) Valdosta State University ($30,802) Centre College ($29,054) Knox College ($26,350) Lewis & Clark College ($24,098) Denison University ($23,752)

Other Majors at Southern Oregon University

Management Information Systems and Services ($59,328) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($51,167) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($48,074) Social Sciences, General ($41,835) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($41,136) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($40,553) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($35,222) Biology, General ($33,930)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology and Anthropology at Southern Oregon University?
A score of 29/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Sociology and Anthropology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Sociology and Anthropology careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $406,213 in decade earnings vs $409,061 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →