Sociology at CUNY Queens College

Queens College sociology graduates face a tough first year, earning about $32,000—roughly $2,500 below the state median and in the bottom third nationally. But here's what matters: earnings jump 57% by year four to reach $50,156, vaulting past both state and national benchmarks. That trajectory suggests graduates are successfully transitioning into careers that value their analytical skills, whether in research, nonprofit work, or business roles.

The program's real advantage is cost. At $15,750 in median debt—less than half the national average—Queens delivers one of the lowest debt loads of any sociology program in the country. You're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5, meaning your child could realistically pay off loans within a year or two of their post-graduation salary. For a CUNY school serving a predominantly working-class student body (48% receive Pell grants), these debt figures represent genuine accessibility.

The tradeoff is clear: expect a sluggish start after graduation, likely requiring patience through entry-level positions or additional job searching. But the four-year numbers tell a more promising story than the program's middling percentile rankings suggest. If your child is committed to sociology and cost-conscious about debt, Queens offers a viable path—just make sure they understand they'll need to hustle through that first year or two.