Sociology at Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University's sociology program lands below the middle of the pack both nationally and within Tennessee, with first-year earnings of $31,699 trailing the state median by nearly $1,600. Among Tennessee's 22 sociology programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile—meaning graduates from programs like UT-Knoxville and Tennessee Tech earn roughly $3,000-$4,000 more annually. The modest earnings growth to $32,849 by year four suggests limited advancement potential in the early career years.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $27,375, it's only slightly above state and national medians, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86. That's better than many sociology programs, where debt can easily exceed first-year earnings. For a school serving a predominantly working-class population (46% receive Pell grants), keeping debt relatively contained matters.

However, the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported—means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. If your child is drawn to sociology at Austin Peay, the nearly open admission and lower costs might make it reasonable, but understand they'll likely start around $32,000 and won't see dramatic salary increases early on. Stronger-performing in-state options exist if mobility and higher earnings are priorities.