Sociology at Adams State University

Adams State's sociology program shows unusually strong first-year earnings of nearly $47,000—well above both the national median ($34,102) and Colorado's median ($37,674). However, the sample size here is quite small (under 30 graduates), which means these numbers could shift significantly with just a few data points. That 95th percentile national ranking looks impressive on paper, but it's worth understanding that sociology programs typically start at relatively modest salaries, so even "top-performing" programs may not match what other majors command.

The debt load of $29,441 is higher than what most Colorado sociology programs carry (state median: $23,000), though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 remains manageable by national standards. What's notable is that despite the strong earnings figure, this program only reaches the 60th percentile among Colorado sociology programs—suggesting that strong first-year outcomes might be more common statewide than the national data suggests. The top Colorado programs show earnings clustering in the low-to-mid $40,000s, so Adams State appears competitive within the state despite being in a remote location.

For anxious parents: If your child is committed to sociology and considering Adams State, the debt level is reasonable relative to the earnings. Just recognize that the small sample size makes this harder to predict than programs with hundreds of graduates, and sociology generally requires strategic career planning regardless of where you study it.