Sociology at Minnesota State University-Mankato

Minnesota State University-Mankato's sociology program produces first-year earnings well above the national median ($42,108 vs. $34,102), landing in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive context. However, within Minnesota—where sociology grads generally earn more than the national average—this program sits at the 60th percentile, trailing behind programs at Winona State and MSU Moorhead. The debt load of $27,000 matches the state median and creates a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates earn enough in their first year to reasonably handle their loans.

The concerning pattern here is the earnings decline from year one to year four, dropping from $42,108 to $40,199. While some fields see temporary dips as graduates explore career paths, a 4% decline suggests graduates may struggle to find positions that build on their initial success. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly with just a few data points, so individual outcomes may vary more than typical.

For families comfortable with the inherent uncertainty of a small sample, this program offers strong starting earnings with reasonable debt. Just understand that Minnesota has several sociology programs delivering similar or better outcomes, and career progression after graduation appears limited based on available data.