Sociology at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento State's sociology graduates start at $37,000 but reach nearly $51,000 by year four—a 37% jump that outpaces the typical trajectory for this field. That kind of momentum matters when many sociology programs show flat or modest growth. The program ranks in the 73rd percentile nationally and 60th within California, performing solidly above state and national medians despite Sacramento State's 94% admission rate and large Pell grant population.

The debt picture strengthens the case considerably. At $16,100, graduates carry roughly $9,000 less than the national average for sociology majors and are right at California's median. This translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43—manageable by any standard and particularly favorable given the strong earnings growth ahead. Even the first-year salary comfortably covers the modest debt load.

For families seeking affordable access to a liberal arts degree with practical upside, this program delivers. You're not getting Berkeley cachet (where grads start higher but cost more), but you are getting steady income growth and minimal debt burden. The combination of low cost, strong retention, and above-average earnings makes this one of the more sensible sociology options in California's public system.