Sociology (Bachelor's Degree) at Mount Mercy University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,034

Est. from IA median (5 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,000

Est. from IA median (3 programs)

Analysis

Sociology programs in Iowa cluster tightly around $38,000 in first-year earnings, and Mount Mercy's estimated outcomes land right in that middle ground. Based on comparable programs at similar Iowa institutions, graduates here are looking at roughly $25,000 in debt—a manageable load that equals about eight months of first-year income. This debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 sits comfortably below the threshold where loan payments typically strain budgets.

What's less certain is how Mount Mercy specifically prepares students for the job market compared to alternatives. Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa graduates earn several thousand dollars more in their first year, though that gap may reflect different career paths or geographic factors rather than program quality. The estimated earnings here do exceed the national sociology median of $34,102, suggesting Iowa's job market offers some regional advantage for social science graduates.

The core question is whether this investment opens doors your child wants. Sociology degrees rarely lead to high-paying first jobs, but they build research, analysis, and communication skills valued across nonprofit, government, and human services sectors. At this debt level, monthly loan payments should be workable even on typical sociology salaries. Just recognize these figures are extrapolated from peer programs—actual outcomes for Mount Mercy graduates could vary based on factors like internship opportunities, alumni networks, and individual career choices.

Where Mount Mercy University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Sociology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (20 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids	$39,070	$38,034*	—	$25,000*	—
University of Northern IowaCedar Falls	$9,728	$41,250*	$43,465	$24,594*	0.60
Iowa State UniversityAmes	$10,497	$40,602*	$50,992	$21,935*	0.54
Central CollegePella	$20,988	$38,034*	$35,835	$25,000*	0.66
William Penn UniversityOskaloosa	$28,750	$34,099*	—	$28,963*	0.85
Grinnell CollegeGrinnell	$64,862	$28,216*	$50,389	$16,000*	0.57
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 Mount Mercy University, approximately 26% 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 5 similar programs in IA. Actual outcomes may vary.