Home Schools University of Puget Sound Sociology and Anthropology
Social Sciences · Sociology and Anthropology Rank #8 of 10

Sociology and Anthropologyat University of Puget Sound

Graduates earn $19,495/yr in their first year — about 33.0% below the national Sociology and Anthropology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $378K; scenarios range from $376K to $364K depending on AI disruption.

Tacoma, WA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
25 AT RISK
26
Optimistic
24
Pessimistic
Earnings
$19,495
1-year post-graduation
ROI
-0.2x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$378K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Puget Sound

A Sociology and Anthropology degree from a liberal arts institution like the University of Puget Sound provides a robust foundation in critical thinking, research, and understanding complex human systems. While these are invaluable skills, the direct career path isn't always linear or immediately high-paying compared to more vocational fields. Many graduates find their niche in non-profits, government agencies, community development, or social services, where a deep understanding of human behavior and societal structures is prized. The Tacoma/Seattle region offers opportunities in these sectors, as well as in human-centered design or market research roles within tech, but often requires proactive networking. Given the high AI risk for some analytical tasks, focus on developing your qualitative research, ethnographic, and interpersonal communication skills. You'll need to actively translate your broad knowledge into specific professional applications.

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
$376K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score24/100
Earnings Multiple1.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$378K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score25/100
Earnings Multiple1.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$364K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score26/100
Earnings Multiple1.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Sociology and Anthropology 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
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
+2.7% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$95,770/yr
High
4
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$82,540/yr
Moderate
5
Anthropologists and archeologists
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 800 openings/yr
$64,910/yr
Moderate
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 and Anthropology

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

Highest earnings
Lafayette College
PA · Private nonprofit
37
DW Score
$43K
1-yr earn
0.7x
ROI
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
MA · Public
35
DW Score
$34K
1-yr earn
4.7x
ROI
Top score
College of Staten Island CUNY
NY · Public
40
DW Score
$34K
1-yr earn
13.1x
ROI
Valdosta State University
GA · Public
40
DW Score
$31K
1-yr earn
17.2x
ROI
Centre College
KY · Private nonprofit
25
DW Score
$29K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Also at University of Puget Sound

Other top programs at University of Puget Sound

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Sociology and Anthropology at University of Puget Sound

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology and Anthropology at University of Puget Sound?

A score of 25/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Sociology and Anthropology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Sociology and Anthropology at University of Puget Sound worth the student debt?

Median debt of $25,000 against $19,495/yr starting salary means roughly 1.3 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

Will AI replace Sociology and Anthropology careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $376,196 in decade earnings vs $364,118 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Sociology and Anthropology from University of Puget Sound?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.