Sociology at Mount St. Joseph University

Similar bachelor's programs in sociology across Ohio typically produce first-year earnings around $36,500—which means graduates at this level would face a debt load of roughly $27,500, or about 75% of their first year's income. That ratio sits in manageable territory, though it's worth noting the state's stronger programs like Miami University and UC report considerably higher earnings in the low $40,000s for their sociology graduates.

The estimated debt figure here exceeds both the state and national median for sociology bachelor's degrees (both around $25,000), suggesting Mount St. Joseph may lean toward the higher end of borrowing among Ohio schools. Meanwhile, the earnings estimate aligns with typical outcomes statewide but falls short of what Ohio's flagship universities deliver. For context, the national median for sociology bachelor's earners is $34,100, so these Ohio-based projections represent a modest premium over the typical graduate nationwide.

The practical reality: if these estimates hold, your child would likely manage their debt payments on a sociology graduate's salary, but they'd start behind peers at Ohio's more competitive programs. Before committing, ask the school's career services office what actual placement rates and starting salaries look like for recent sociology graduates specifically from Mount St. Joseph—those program-specific outcomes matter more than broad state averages when you're writing the tuition checks.