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Sociology at Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $32,912/yr (-4% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)

ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #54 of 414 Sociology programs Top 25%

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	$625K	$613K	$557K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.8x	14.5x	13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.1x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$42,240

Out-of-state: $121,400 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$73,720

-75% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,250

6.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$63,549

93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,912 track close to the $34,392 national median for Sociology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 14.5x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,250 debt-to-$32,912 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #54 out of 414 programs, Stony Brook University's Sociology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $32,912 to $63,549 over five years (93% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Stony Brook University

With a 49% acceptance rate, Stony Brook University is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 17,420 in Stony Brook, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at Stony Brook 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

Sociology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Stony Brook University

Explore the Trade Alternative

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 Stony Brook University's Sociology program score?

This program scores 48/100 — 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.

Why does Stony Brook University rank so high for Sociology?

The #54 ranking out of 414 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →