Sociology at Kent State University at Stark

Kent State Stark's sociology program graduates earn substantially less than their peers across Ohio, landing in just the 25th percentile statewide. One year out, median earnings of $29,183 trail the Ohio median by over $7,000—a significant gap when the state's top programs like Miami University and UC produce graduates earning in the low $40,000s. While earnings do grow to $33,392 by year four, this remains well below what sociology graduates typically achieve elsewhere in the state.

The $25,000 debt load sits at the national median for sociology programs, which means the financial strain isn't unusually high—but paired with below-average earnings, it creates a challenging first few years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 means graduates carry nearly 10 months of their first year's salary in student loans, making those early paychecks feel particularly tight.

For families weighing this option, the comparison to other Ohio State campuses is telling. The Columbus and Mansfield campuses produce sociology graduates earning $38,034—nearly $9,000 more annually than Kent State Stark graduates by year four. Unless there are compelling reasons to stay local (work commitments, family obligations, significantly lower living costs), that earnings difference compounds to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a career and warrants serious consideration of alternatives within the Ohio public system.