Sociology at Monmouth College

A typical Illinois sociology program leaves graduates with around $26,500 in debt and first-year earnings near $35,000—placing Monmouth's estimated outcomes squarely in the middle of the state's range. Based on these peer program figures, you're looking at debt that amounts to about 9 months of gross salary, which falls within the generally manageable zone for bachelor's degree holders.

What complicates the picture here is that several Illinois schools with reported data show their sociology graduates earning $37,000 to $43,000 in their first year—notably higher than the state median Monmouth's estimates are drawn from. These schools include both public universities like Eastern Illinois and private institutions like McKendree, suggesting there may be meaningful variation in outcomes depending on where your child studies and what connections they build. The national data shows similar patterns, with top-performing programs pushing well above the $34,000 baseline.

The practical question is whether Monmouth provides the advising, internship networks, and career preparation that help sociology graduates move into higher-paying roles in social services, research, or human resources. Since the actual outcomes for Monmouth's specific program aren't available, look closely at their career services track record, graduate school placement rates, and whether they actively connect students to employers in the Chicago area or beyond rural Illinois.