Sociology at Emory University

That first-year salary of $30,516 from a school where peers scored 1500+ on the SAT is jarring—and it falls below even Georgia's modest median for sociology programs. The 84% earnings jump to $56,000 by year four suggests graduates pivot effectively into better-paying fields (law school, consulting, corporate roles that value an elite credential), but you're banking on your child's ability to navigate that transition. At less selective Georgia public universities like Kennesaw State and Columbus State, sociology graduates actually earn *more* right out of the gate and face steeper debt loads.

The $20,500 debt is manageable compared to the national sociology average, though it still exceeds what graduates from many Georgia programs carry. The real question is whether Emory's network and brand can compensate for that rough initial year. If your child plans to pursue graduate school immediately or has clear connections to leverage the alumni network, the investment makes more sense. But if they need employment income right after graduation, consider that equally ranked liberal arts programs at Emory might offer better immediate outcomes.

This is a program where the institutional prestige doesn't automatically translate to early earnings. You're paying for doors that *can* open, not doors that *will* open on day one.