Sociology at Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount's sociology program demonstrates unusually strong earnings growth, with graduates more than doubling their peers' typical trajectories. While the $36,000 starting salary sits slightly above both California and national medians, the real story emerges at year four: $53,785 represents 49% growth and puts graduates within striking distance of programs like UC Berkeley and Occidental. Among California's 64 sociology programs, this lands in the 60th percentile—respectable performance in a competitive state market.

The $19,500 debt load deserves attention, though. It's lower than the national median but about $3,000 above California's typical sociology debt. Combined with that modest first-year salary, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54—manageable, but requiring disciplined budgeting in those early years. The 80th percentile debt ranking nationally confirms this program carries more financial burden than most.

The value here hinges on that four-year trajectory. If your student can navigate the lean first year or two—perhaps through parental support, roommates, or strategic career moves—this program positions them for solid mid-career outcomes. But families needing immediate post-graduation earnings to manage debt payments might find that first-year crunch stressful. The moderate sample size suggests these numbers are reasonably reliable, though outcomes will vary by individual career path and networking success in LA's competitive job market.