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Sociology bachelor's degree outcomes at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · 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 close to the same-degree benchmark.

$3,460 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 52.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −87% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price−$138,030

$10,000Annual price−$178,030

$20,000Annual price−$218,030

$30,000Annual price−$258,030

$33,000Current college-wide context−$270,030

$40,000Annual price−$298,030

$50,000Annual price−$338,030

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+61%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$35,016 → $56,535

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

24Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

58Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

59Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$68,086Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,875

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

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$49,197

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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$32,875Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$39,694Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE60.6%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE86.1%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.

$35,016Year 1

$49,197Year 4

$56,535Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.7% 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$4,100

Estimated loan payment$276

59borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$49,197 vs. $52,657

$3,460 below 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$131,600 median wagePA estimate · 20,170 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSociologists$106,030 median wageU.S. estimate · 2,260 jobs · 19-3041+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSociology Teachers, Postsecondary$99,660 median wagePA estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1067+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$54,610 median wagePA estimate · 860 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$48,710 median wagePA estimate · 1,090 jobs · 25-1069+1.6% projected U.S. growth · 1.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

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