Sociology at Columbia University in the City of New York

A Columbia sociology degree catapults graduates into the 95th percentile for earnings—both nationally and within New York—with first-year earnings of $58,541 that far exceed the $34,000 typical for sociology majors. The program significantly outperforms other prestigious New York institutions, including Colgate ($51,788) and Barnard ($48,215), while the $31,000 in median debt is actually lower than what most sociology students nationally accumulate. That puts Columbia's debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.53, meaning graduates earn nearly twice what they borrowed in their first year alone.

The catch? This data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary considerably. Still, the pattern aligns with Columbia's broader institutional advantages: elite employers recruit heavily from its 4% admission pool, and the New York location provides immediate access to high-paying sectors like finance, consulting, and tech—fields that increasingly value liberal arts graduates for analytical roles. Earnings growth to $66,948 by year four suggests these aren't just entry-level anomalies.

For families who can navigate Columbia's financial aid system (23% of students receive Pell grants), this represents an unusually strong outcome for a traditionally lower-earning major. The combination of modest debt and top-tier earnings transforms sociology from a risky humanities bet into a viable path for students who gain admission.