Sociology at Francis Marion University

Francis Marion's sociology program carries meaningful financial risk despite serving a predominantly working-class student body. Graduates leave with $31,500 in debt—substantially higher than both the state median ($27,000) and national median ($25,000)—while earning just $28,982 in their first year. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.09 means the typical graduate owes more than an entire year's salary, making this one of the more expensive sociology programs relative to outcomes.

The earnings picture improves modestly over four years, reaching $33,774, but this still trails the national median by several thousand dollars and ranks in just the 15th percentile nationally. Within South Carolina, however, the program sits closer to the middle of the pack at the 40th percentile, performing near the state median of $29,438. Still, stronger in-state options exist—Clemson's sociology graduates earn $36,000+, and even comparable regional universities like Lander outpace Francis Marion by roughly $2,500 annually.

One critical caveat: the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly with a different cohort. For a family considering this program, the question becomes whether the academic fit justifies taking on above-average debt for below-average earnings. If sociology is the goal, exploring other South Carolina public universities might offer better return on investment.