Sociologyat University of Northern Iowa
Graduates earn $41,250/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Sociology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $505K; scenarios range from $473K to $506K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Northern Iowa
Graduates earn $41,250/yr, edging above the $34,392 national average for Sociology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
The 13.0x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $20,625 debt-to-$41,250 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
A #41 ranking out of 414 Sociology programs nationally puts University of Northern Iowa in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $41,250 to $50,306 shows 22% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Northern Iowa's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Sociology
How University of Northern Iowa stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Northern Iowa
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Northern Iowa, 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 →Frequently asked about Sociology at University of Northern Iowa
How does University of Northern Iowa's Sociology program score?
This program scores 49/100 — 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.