Sociology at Boston University

Boston University's sociology program lands graduates in a notably better position than most of their peers nationally—starting at $38,457 puts them in the 82nd percentile—but the picture shifts when you zoom into Massachusetts. At the state level, these outcomes rank at just the 60th percentile, meaning three of every five sociology programs in the state deliver comparable or better results. The gap is stark when you look at the top Massachusetts programs: Boston College and Tufts sociology graduates earn nearly $10,000 more in their first year, despite BU's highly selective 11% admission rate and impressive 1473 average SAT.

The real strength here lies in earnings trajectory. That 45% jump from year one to year four ($38,457 to $55,876) suggests BU's network and career services create meaningful momentum over time. The debt load of $26,750 is reasonable, translating to a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio that shouldn't strain most graduates' budgets.

For families paying premium Boston University tuition, the question is whether middle-of-the-pack outcomes in Massachusetts justify the investment. If your child can access BU's resources and is committed to leveraging its alumni network, that earnings growth pattern shows promise. But if they're choosing between BU sociology and a comparable program at UMass with significantly lower tuition, the value proposition becomes harder to defend based purely on starting salaries.