Sociology at Augsburg University

Augsburg's sociology graduates start at $34,543—squarely average nationally but landing in the bottom half among Minnesota programs. When the state median sits at $40,540, that $6,000 gap matters, particularly since nearby public universities like Winona State and Minnesota State Moorhead are placing graduates into jobs paying $43,000+. The debt load of $27,000 matches Minnesota's typical burden for sociology majors, yielding a manageable 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio, but the earnings themselves lag behind what families might expect given Minnesota's strong market for social science graduates.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could shift substantially year to year. Augsburg serves a majority first-generation and lower-income population (52% on Pell grants), which may influence both career paths and initial salary figures in ways raw data doesn't capture. That said, when comparing private liberal arts options in Minnesota, this program trails Hamline's outcomes and sits far below what students achieve at flagship public institutions.

If your student is choosing between Augsburg and a Minnesota state university for sociology, the state schools are delivering better initial returns. If Augsburg offers other compelling reasons—location, community, support services—the debt burden isn't crushing, but parents should plan for tighter first-year budgets than Minnesota's sociology market typically requires.