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Social Sciences · Sociology Rank #148 of 414

Sociologyat University of Notre Dame

Graduates earn $35,915/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Sociology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $808K; scenarios range from $709K to $839K depending on AI disruption.

Notre Dame, IN Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
42 AVERAGE
43
Optimistic
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,915
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$808K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Notre Dame

Your Sociology degree from Notre Dame benefits significantly from the university's robust national brand and fiercely loyal alumni network. This institutional prestige often opens doors in diverse sectors – from non-profits and government to consulting and corporate roles – that might otherwise be harder to access with a broad liberal arts major. Graduates frequently leverage their critical thinking, research, and analytical skills in roles spanning human resources, market research, or policy analysis, often transitioning into management positions that value a deep understanding of human behavior and social systems. The program's strength lies in honing these versatile intellectual capabilities rather than preparing you for a singular career path. Given the evolving job market and the increasing automation risk in many analytical and research-heavy fields, proactively seeking out internships that apply your sociological insights to data analysis or project management will be crucial for your future career trajectory.

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
$709K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple2.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$808K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$839K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Notre Dame'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 Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame

Other top programs at University of Notre Dame

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Notre Dame, 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 Notre Dame

What does a 42/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Sociology at University of Notre Dame?

At 42/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Sociology programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Sociology at University of Notre Dame?

The 42% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

What do students actually pay for Sociology at University of Notre Dame?

The 56% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $250,772. At a net cost of $111,292, the earnings multiple improves substantially.