Sociology at East Texas A&M University

A sociology degree from East Texas A&M comes with modest debt but delivers below-average earnings, landing in the 30th percentile nationally and 40th percentile among Texas programs. Starting at $31,620—about $1,300 below the state median—graduates face an income gap that doesn't close over time. Even after four years, when earnings reach $38,079, they're still trailing peer programs like UT Austin ($39,621 first-year) and Texas Woman's University ($38,438 first-year).

The debt picture is reasonable at $26,490, slightly above state and national medians but manageable at 0.84 times first-year income. The real concern is opportunity cost: students at comparable Texas schools are earning substantially more right out of the gate. That initial salary gap compounds over a career, potentially costing tens of thousands in lost earning potential. The 20% earnings growth from year one to year four is positive but unremarkable for any bachelor's degree.

For families watching every dollar, this program means starting behind and staying behind. If your child is committed to sociology and considering in-state options, programs like Lamar or UT Arlington offer similar accessibility with notably stronger employment outcomes. The moderate sample size suggests these numbers are reliable, making this a case where the data clearly points toward exploring alternatives within Texas's public university system.