Sociology at Franciscan University of Steubenville

In Ohio, sociology programs produce outcomes that hover around $36,500 in first-year earnings, and comparable programs at similar institutions suggest debt near $27,500—putting graduates roughly three-quarters of a year's salary in debt. That's manageable by most standards, though far from impressive when you consider that top programs in the state like Miami University and University of Cincinnati routinely place graduates above $42,000.

What makes this situation trickier is that we're working entirely with estimates here. The actual graduate pool from Franciscan's sociology program is too small for the Department of Education to report specific outcomes, so we're inferring from peer programs across Ohio. The state median sits right at the national benchmark—sociology simply doesn't command high starting salaries anywhere. The question becomes whether Franciscan's approach to the field, presumably influenced by its distinctive Catholic mission and smaller cohort sizes, produces outcomes that justify its price tag compared to larger state universities.

The practical reality: a $27,500 debt load on $36,500 in earnings is workable but leaves little room for error. If those estimates hold true for this specific program, you're looking at manageable monthly payments but not much cushion for unexpected expenses or career pivots. Given the uncertainty and the fact that Ohio's public flagships report stronger placement numbers with similar or lower debt, you'd want compelling reasons beyond the earnings data—institutional fit, specific faculty, or career placement support—to choose Franciscan for sociology.