Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $28,495/yr fall 17% below the $34,392 national median for Sociology. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
At 9.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.
AI risk is moderate — 42% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $15,679 debt-to-$28,495 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
At #247 out of 414 programs, University of California-Santa Cruz's financial outcomes for Sociology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $28,495 to $56,389 over five years (98% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.