Sociology at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,517/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk
High (42% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI
9.5x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)
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 | $481K | $482K | $455K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.5x | 9.5x | 9.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.4x | 3.5x | 3.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 44% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 32 | 32 | 31 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,752
Out-of-state: $139,736 (3.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,250
9.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,426
42% growth from Year 1
About University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia's 61% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 28,113 in Columbia, SC.
See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Sociologists
$101,690/yr
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
$82,540/yr
Compare & Explore
Sociology at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia
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 South Carolina-Columbia?
A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Sociology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $454,783 in decade earnings vs $481,168 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →