Location: Saint Charles, MO•In-State Tuition: $21,100•Admission Rate: 66%•Avg SAT: 1120
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$34,942
Est. from MO median (9 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$33,088
Est. from MO median (4 programs)

Analysis

Similar sociology programs in Missouri suggest first-year earnings around $35,000, but Lindenwood's estimated debt load of $33,000 creates an unusually tight financial picture. That near 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child would be borrowing nearly their entire first year's salary—significantly higher than the $25,000 state median for sociology degrees. When comparable programs at Missouri schools like Columbia College and UMKC produce similar earnings, the debt burden becomes the differentiating factor.

The earnings themselves align with both state and national expectations for sociology graduates, so the concern isn't about career prospects in the field. Rather, it's about whether Lindenwood's specific cost structure justifies those outcomes. With peer Missouri programs reporting substantially lower debt, families should scrutinize what's driving Lindenwood's higher borrowing levels—whether through tuition pricing, financial aid packages, or time-to-degree completion.

Since both figures here are estimates based on comparable Missouri programs rather than Lindenwood's actual graduate outcomes, request the school's own placement and debt data before committing. The $8,000 gap between estimated debt here and the state median represents real monthly payments your child would face, making this difference worth investigating thoroughly.

Where Lindenwood University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all sociology bachelors's programs nationally

Lindenwood University (estimated ±10%)Other sociology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Sociology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (28 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Lindenwood UniversitySaint Charles$21,100$34,942*—$33,088*—
Columbia CollegeColumbia$24,326$37,758*$38,279$32,276*0.85
University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas City$11,988$36,810*$44,252$20,799*0.57
Drury UniversitySpringfield$35,235$35,881*$34,669$33,900*0.94
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional StudiesSpringfield$8,044$35,881*$34,669$33,900*0.94
University of Missouri-St LouisSaint Louis$13,440$34,942*$41,287$26,686*0.76
National Median—$34,102*—$25,000*0.73
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with sociology graduates

Sociologists

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

$101,690/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other

All postsecondary social sciences teachers not listed separately.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Lindenwood University, approximately 29% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 9 similar programs in MO. Actual outcomes may vary.