Sociology at Florida International University

FIU's sociology program graduates start behind most of their peers, both nationally and within Florida. At $31,147 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $2,500 less than the Florida median and rank in just the 26th percentile nationally. Even among the 23 Florida schools offering sociology degrees, this program sits below the median—trailing schools like University of Central Florida and Florida State by $3,000-4,000 annually.

The debt load of $24,000 is manageable in absolute terms, and the 24% earnings growth from year one to year four shows graduates can improve their position over time. But that four-year mark of $38,745 still lags behind what top Florida programs deliver in year one. For context, Saint Leo's sociology graduates start nearly $8,000 higher. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 isn't alarming, but it reflects the reality of below-average starting salaries rather than particularly low debt.

If your child is committed to sociology and values FIU's location and diversity (40% of students receive Pell grants), this program won't saddle them with crushing debt. However, the earnings data suggests they'll face a slower financial start than peers at comparable Florida public universities. The moderate sample size means these numbers are reasonably reliable, making the comparison to UNF or UCF worth serious consideration.