Sociology at National University

National University's sociology program punches well above its weight—graduates earn $46,505 in their first year, placing them in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among California programs. That's $12,000 more than the typical sociology graduate nationwide and nearly $12,000 above California's state median. Only a handful of elite universities like Santa Clara or UC Berkeley produce sociology graduates with comparable early earnings.

The debt picture reinforces this value story. At $28,125, graduates borrow less than the national median for sociology programs, and while that's notably higher than California's typical $16,500, the strong earnings make the tradeoff work. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 means graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a few years if they prioritize it. The slight earnings dip to $45,370 by year four isn't ideal, but it barely dents the program's strong positioning—these graduates still out-earn most sociology majors by a significant margin.

For parents weighing this program, the key question is whether National University's approach—likely emphasizing professional skills and career placement—justifies higher debt than Cal State alternatives. The earnings data suggests it does, particularly if your student wants to maximize income with a sociology degree rather than pursuing graduate school immediately.