Sociology at Judson University

A sociology bachelor's degree from Judson carries an estimated $26,497 in debt—slightly above the national median for this major—while comparable Illinois programs suggest first-year earnings around $34,769. That 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory, meaning graduates would owe roughly nine months of their first year's salary. However, the estimation here matters: peer programs in Illinois show a surprisingly wide range, with graduates from Chicago State and McKendree earning $40,000-plus while others cluster in the mid-$30,000s. Without actual outcome data from Judson's program, it's unclear where their graduates land within this spectrum.

The earnings themselves align closely with national figures for sociology majors, suggesting the field's broader challenges apply here too. Social science graduates often need graduate degrees or pivot into adjacent fields like human resources, social services, or nonprofit work to significantly boost earnings. The debt load isn't catastrophic—many Illinois sociology programs show similar borrowing—but it's enough to create strain if post-graduation employment doesn't materialize quickly.

Your practical consideration: can your student graduate with less than $27,000 in debt through scholarships, work-study, or completing the degree faster? That debt level becomes more manageable with aggressive repayment, but sociology's modest starting salaries don't leave much cushion. If graduate school is likely—and it often is in this field—minimizing undergraduate debt becomes even more critical.