Sociology at Muskingum University

Borrowing an estimated $27,469 to earn roughly $36,500 in the first year produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75—manageable territory, though these figures come from comparable Ohio sociology programs rather than Muskingum's actual graduate outcomes. Similar programs across the state cluster around these numbers, suggesting a typical trajectory for sociology bachelor's degrees in Ohio rather than anything distinctive about this particular program.

The first-year earning estimate sits right at the state median and slightly above the national benchmark of $34,102, but falls well short of what top Ohio programs achieve—graduates from Miami University and University of Cincinnati earn in the low $40,000s. For a school with an 82% admission rate and significant Pell enrollment (41%), Muskingum appears to deliver outcomes consistent with the broader sociology market, neither dramatically outperforming nor underperforming peer institutions.

The practical reality: sociology degrees rarely command high starting salaries anywhere, and without actual data from Muskingum's graduates, you're betting on the state average holding true here. The debt load is moderate but not trivial—roughly nine months of gross income to repay. If your child is genuinely passionate about sociology and understands the earning constraints, this is a survivable financial picture. But if they're uncertain about the field or could access stronger programs at similar cost, those Ohio State or Miami numbers suggest better returns are available elsewhere in the state.