Sociology at Ithaca College

Ithaca College's sociology program shows earnings that trail significantly behind most New York alternatives, ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide and the 5th percentile nationally. That first-year figure of $24,026 is roughly $10,000 below what typical New York sociology graduates earn, and it falls short of even CUNY schools that cost considerably less. While earnings nearly double by year four to $44,543, this still lags the state median and many public options.

The $25,000 debt load matches national norms but represents a full year's income for recent graduates—a tight financial squeeze during those critical early career years. For context, CUNY Lehman and Brooklyn graduates start around $42,000 while typically carrying similar or lower debt. The sample size here is small, so these numbers might not tell the complete story, but the pattern is consistent enough to warrant attention.

For families paying private school tuition, this represents a challenging return on investment. If your child is passionate about sociology, consider whether Ithaca's specific resources justify the earnings gap compared to SUNY or CUNY programs, or whether graduate school plans might change the calculation. The strong earnings growth suggests the degree can lead somewhere, but the starting point puts graduates at a real disadvantage.