Sociology at Concordia University-Chicago

A debt load of roughly $26,500 for first-year earnings around $35,000 lands squarely in the middle of what sociology graduates across Illinois typically experience. Based on comparable programs in the state, this 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child would owe about nine months' worth of their expected first-year salary—manageable, but not generous either. The national picture mirrors Illinois closely, with median earnings just above $34,000, suggesting sociology degrees produce fairly consistent outcomes regardless of geography.

What's less certain is how Concordia-Chicago specifically performs within this landscape. The school's high acceptance rate and substantial Pell enrollment (45%) serve students who might not access higher education elsewhere, but several Illinois programs—including Chicago State at $43,000 and McKendree at $40,000—demonstrate that sociology graduates in the state can earn notably more their first year out. Whether Concordia's program delivers closer to those stronger outcomes or stays near the state median remains unclear from the available data.

The bottom line: If your child is drawn to sociology and values a smaller, supportive environment, this program presents typical financial risks for the field—not alarming, but requiring realistic career planning. Sociology rarely leads to high-paying first jobs, so understanding post-graduation plans (social work, graduate school, corporate training roles) matters more here than the degree itself.