Sociology at Mount St. Mary's University

Mount St. Mary's sociology graduates earn $40,196 in their first year—notably higher than the national median of $34,102 and outperforming 92% of sociology programs nationwide. Within Maryland, it ranks solidly in the middle of the pack (60th percentile), trailing larger programs like UMBC and Bowie State but substantially ahead of schools like Frostburg. The $27,000 in debt matches the Maryland median but stays comfortably below the national average, resulting in a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio where graduates owe about eight months' salary.

What makes this particularly appealing is the combination: you're getting near-top-tier national outcomes from a school with a 72% admission rate. Most sociology programs struggle to push earnings much above $35,000, so breaking $40,000 matters. The modest debt load means graduates aren't hamstrung by payments while pursuing grad school or entry-level nonprofit work—common paths for sociology majors.

The major caveat here is sample size. With fewer than 30 recent graduates in the data, a few high earners or career-changers could skew these numbers significantly. If your child is genuinely interested in sociology and appreciates a smaller campus environment, the numbers look promising. Just recognize that this snapshot might not perfectly predict future outcomes given the limited data.