Sociology bachelor's degree outcomes at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Federal field 4511

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$9,547 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 43.4% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −34% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+74%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$35,055 → $60,828

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

62Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

93Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

142Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$38,384Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,680

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$26,985

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$62,204

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$19,680Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$32,198Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE84.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE80.7%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$35,055Year 1

$62,204Year 4

$60,828Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.5% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,184

Estimated loan payment$286

142borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$62,204 vs. $52,657

$9,547 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Managers, All Other$134,260 median wageMI estimate · 9,380 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSociology Teachers, Postsecondary$102,870 median wageMI estimate · 370 jobs · 25-1067+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSociologists$88,040 median wageMI estimate · 90 jobs · 19-3041+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$97,450 median wageMI estimate · 220 jobs · 25-1069+1.6% projected U.S. growth · 1.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$60,210 median wageMI estimate · 750 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

Possible alternatives