Sociology at Illinois State University

Illinois State's sociology graduates start below both state and national averages at $33,636, landing in just the 40th percentile among Illinois programs. Several peer institutions—including Chicago State and McKendree—show first-year earnings $7,000-9,000 higher. That's a meaningful gap when you're managing $25,000 in debt, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 remains workable compared to many social science fields.

The redeeming factor here is trajectory. Earnings jump 43% by year four, reaching $48,082—a growth rate that outpaces typical sociology programs. This suggests graduates are finding their footing in the job market, even if the initial placement lags behind state competitors. For context, Northwestern's sociology grads earn more initially but from a higher-cost program.

The practical consideration: your student will likely need financial support or careful budgeting during those first couple of years while earnings are below $3,000 monthly. If they can weather that period—perhaps through living at home or supplemental income—the four-year outlook becomes more reasonable. The moderate sample size means these figures represent real outcomes, not outliers. This isn't Illinois's strongest sociology program by the numbers, but the strong earnings growth offers a path to stability for students who choose this route.