Est. Earnings (1yr)
$38,075
Est. from KS median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,000
Est. from national median (131 programs)

Analysis

Similar sociology programs in Kansas suggest first-year earnings around $38,075—slightly above the national median for this field but landing squarely in the middle of the state's range. That puts Friends University's estimated outcomes on par with Fort Hays State but well below what Kansas State and KU graduates typically earn. The estimated $26,000 debt load is close to both state and national norms for sociology degrees.

The 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment if graduates find steady employment immediately, though sociology majors often need additional credentials or time to reach stable career earnings. Comparable programs show significant variation in outcomes—from nearly $43,000 at the state's flagship universities down to about $29,000 at others—which reflects how heavily post-graduation job placement matters in this field. The wide spread among Kansas schools highlights that individual circumstances and career direction will likely matter more than the degree itself.

For parents evaluating this investment, recognize you're working with peer program estimates rather than Friends University's actual graduate outcomes. The middle-of-the-pack projections suggest neither exceptional opportunity nor obvious red flags, but sociology's typical career paths—social services, nonprofit work, research—often require patience to build earning power. If your student plans graduate school or views this as preparation for a specific career, factor those additional costs and timeline into your calculation.

Where Friends University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all sociology bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Sociology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (15 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Friends UniversityWichita$32,748$38,075*—$26,000*—
Kansas State UniversityManhattan$10,942$42,985*$40,827$25,946*0.60
University of KansasLawrence$11,700$42,703*$52,185$23,001*0.54
Fort Hays State UniversityHays$5,633$38,075*$42,654$33,482*0.88
Wichita State UniversityWichita$9,322$35,236*$34,049$30,500*0.87
Emporia State UniversityEmporia$7,356$29,313*$32,383$27,000*0.92
National Median—$34,102*—$25,000*0.73
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with sociology graduates

Sociologists

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

$101,690/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other

All postsecondary social sciences teachers not listed separately.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Friends University, approximately 34% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in KS. Actual outcomes may vary.