Sociology and Anthropology: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$239,611 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
70.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
−86%Modeled 10-year ROI
$48,940Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$48,940Median reported earnings · year 4
$51,053Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,924Median federal debt
19thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
11Reporting programs
9With year-4 earnings
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$43,982National median$48,94075th percentile$50,716
9 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
11 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1St Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MN · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$60,225Federal debt$24,644Annual net price$23,8742Lewis & Clark CollegePortland, OR · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$52,622Federal debt$19,000Annual net price$36,0133College of Staten Island CUNYStaten Island, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$50,716Federal debt$15,180Annual net price$5,5794Denison UniversityGranville, OH · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$49,035Federal debt$26,500Annual net price$40,0075University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$48,940Federal debt$24,924Annual net price$38,3946Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$45,120Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$24,5957Southern Oregon UniversityAshland, OR · PublicYear-4 earnings$43,982Federal debt$20,000Annual net price$16,7328Valdosta State UniversityValdosta, GA · PublicYear-4 earnings$41,619Federal debt$37,249Annual net price$10,9459University of Massachusetts-DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, MA · PublicYear-4 earnings$41,529Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$20,92710Centre CollegeDanville, KY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$27,000Annual net price$20,78111Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$17,549Annual net price$34,433
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1St Olaf College$60,2252Lewis & Clark College$52,6223College of Staten Island CUNY$50,7164Denison University$49,0355University of Puget Sound$48,9406Knox College$45,1207Southern Oregon University$43,9828Valdosta State University$41,6199University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth$41,52910Centre CollegeNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Anthropologists and ArcheologistsSOC 19-3091 · 1 crosswalk linksAnthropology and Archeology Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1061 · 1 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 1 crosswalk linksSociologistsSOC 19-3041 · 1 crosswalk linksSociology Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1067 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Olaf CollegeBachelor's Degree | Northfield, MN | $60,225 | $24,644 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Lewis & Clark CollegeBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $52,622 | $19,000 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | College of Staten Island CUNYBachelor's Degree | Staten Island, NY | $50,716 | $15,180 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Denison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Granville, OH | $49,035 | $26,500 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of Puget SoundBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $48,940 | $24,924 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Knox CollegeBachelor's Degree | Galesburg, IL | $45,120 | $27,000 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Southern Oregon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ashland, OR | $43,982 | $20,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Valdosta State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Valdosta, GA | $41,619 | $37,249 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts-DartmouthBachelor's Degree | North Dartmouth, MA | $41,529 | $27,000 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Centre CollegeBachelor's Degree | Danville, KY | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,781 |
| 11 | Lafayette CollegeBachelor's Degree | Easton, PA | Not available | $17,549 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $34,433 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.