Sociology at Lamar University

Lamar University's sociology program delivers first-year earnings of $38,042—solidly above both the national median ($34,102) and Texas median ($32,956), placing graduates in the 80th percentile nationally. That's competitive with Texas heavyweights like UT Austin ($39,621) and just below Baylor ($37,753), which is impressive for a regional university with an 86% acceptance rate. The earnings advantage suggests either strong regional employer relationships or graduates who land better-positioned roles than typical sociology majors.

The concern is cost: at $36,615 in debt, graduates owe nearly $12,000 more than the typical sociology major nationwide. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.96 is manageable in absolute terms—meaning graduates earn slightly more than they owe in year one—you're paying a premium compared to other Texas sociology programs where median debt sits at $25,000. That extra $11,000+ in debt eats into the earnings advantage, especially when Lamar serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (44%) who may be more debt-sensitive.

This program makes sense if your student can minimize borrowing through scholarships or family support, particularly given the strong placement outcomes. But at sticker price, families should compare net costs carefully against peer programs like UT Arlington ($37,338 earnings, likely similar debt) or Texas State ($37,263). The earnings potential is real, but the debt load means there's less room for error than at comparable Texas schools.