Sociology at Columbus State University

Columbus State's sociology program sits squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but the debt load should make any parent think twice. While graduates earn slightly above the national median ($34,899 versus $34,102) and rank in the 60th percentile among Georgia sociology programs, they're carrying $38,400 in debt—substantially more than both the national median ($25,000) and the Georgia median ($28,875). That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.10 means graduates start with debt exceeding their entire first-year salary.

The concerning part isn't the earning potential—modest 11% growth to $38,820 by year four is reasonable for sociology, and the program outperforms many Georgia competitors including UGA. The issue is paying for it. At an institution with a 99% admission rate serving many first-generation students (44% receive Pell grants), this debt burden seems particularly high. For context, sociology graduates at Kennesaw State earn slightly more while likely carrying less debt, and Georgia Southern delivers comparable outcomes.

If your child is committed to sociology and Columbus State is the right fit culturally and geographically, they'll need a strategy to minimize borrowing—grants, scholarships, part-time work, or community college transfer credits. Otherwise, look at Georgia's other public universities where similar career outcomes come with more manageable debt loads.