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Social Sciences · Sociology Rank #13 of 414

Sociologyat University of Kansas

Graduates earn $42,703/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Sociology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $561K; scenarios range from $516K to $568K depending on AI disruption.

Lawrence, KS Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
53 AVERAGE
54
Optimistic
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,703
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$561K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Kansas

Graduates earn $42,703/yr, edging above the $34,392 national average for Sociology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 12.0x 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 $22,251 debt-to-$42,703 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #13 out of 414 programs, University of Kansas's Sociology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,703 to $60,399 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$516K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple11.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$561K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple12.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$568K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple12.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Kansas's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Sociology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Sociologists
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$101,690/yr
High
3
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$82,540/yr
Moderate
4
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$75,040/yr
Low
5
Social science research assistants
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 5,200 openings/yr
$58,040/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Sociology

How University of Kansas stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
48
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
Top score
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Santa Clara University
CA · Private nonprofit
49
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Colgate University
NY · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Trinity College
CT · Private nonprofit
41
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Also at University of Kansas

Other top programs at University of Kansas

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Kansas, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Sociology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Sociology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Sociology at University of Kansas

How does University of Kansas's Sociology program score?

This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Sociology graduates.

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 University of Kansas rank so high for Sociology?

The #13 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.