Sociology (Bachelor's Degree) at College of Saint Benedict

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$40,540

Est. from MN median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$26,000

Est. from national median (131 programs)

Analysis

A $26,000 debt load for a bachelor's degree is relatively manageable, but sociology graduates need to think carefully about their first jobs. Based on comparable Minnesota programs, first-year earnings around $40,500 translate to monthly loan payments of roughly $290—taking about 9% of gross income. That's workable, though it assumes finding full-time work that actually uses the degree. Sociology opens doors to social services, human resources, and research roles, but many entry positions pay considerably less than this state median, particularly in nonprofit sectors where many graduates gravitate.

The College of Saint Benedict sits near the middle of Minnesota's sociology programs in estimated earnings. Several public universities in the state—Winona State, Mankato, Moorhead—report outcomes in the low-$40,000s with similar or slightly higher debt loads. What matters most is what your student plans to do with the degree. Graduate school aspirations? That could add significant debt. Direct entry to corporate HR or market research? The numbers work. Community organizing or case management? Expect tighter finances initially.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 suggests this program isn't overpriced relative to earning potential, but recognize these are estimates based on peer programs statewide, not outcomes specific to Saint Benedict graduates. Before committing, your student should talk to recent alumni about their actual career paths and starting salaries—that real-world intelligence matters more than statewide averages when the college's own outcomes aren't available.

Where College of Saint Benedict Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all sociology bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Sociology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (22 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
College of Saint BenedictSaint Joseph	$53,884	$40,540*	—	$26,000*	—
Winona State UniversityWinona	$10,498	$43,505*	$41,763	$21,687*	0.50
Minnesota State University MoorheadMoorhead	$10,336	$42,984*	$49,414	$27,000*	0.63
Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato	$9,490	$42,108*	$40,199	$27,000*	0.64
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis	$16,488	$38,972*	$50,586	$20,377*	0.52
Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis	$43,942	$34,543*	—	$27,000*	0.78
National Median	—	$34,102*	—	$25,000*	0.73

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with sociology graduates

Sociologists

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

$101,690/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other

All postsecondary social sciences teachers not listed separately.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At College of Saint Benedict, approximately 19% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 6 similar programs in MN. Actual outcomes may vary.