Sociology at University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
51
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,435/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 11.2x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #23 of 414 Sociology programs Top 10%

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 $590K $581K $532K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.4x 11.2x 10.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.8x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 51 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,808
Out-of-state: $121,232 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,312
-42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,279
58% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,435 at University of Maryland-Baltimore County come in 15% above the national median of $34,392 for Sociology programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Sociology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Sociology's typical career paths, with 42% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $39,435 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #23 of 414 programs, University of Maryland-Baltimore County's Sociology program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $62,279 show a 58% jump from the $39,435 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Maryland-Baltimore County

University of Maryland-Baltimore County accepts 74% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 10,434 in Baltimore, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Maryland-Baltimore County →

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 University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at University of Maryland-Baltimore County?
A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Sociology field.
Will AI replace Sociology careers?
With 42% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $531,654 in decade earnings vs $589,641 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →