Sociology at North Carolina A & T State University

This sociology program starts graduates at just $24,661—nearly $10,000 below the North Carolina median and in the bottom 5% nationally. While graduates do see 23% earnings growth by year four, reaching $30,384, they're still earning less than what most sociology majors make right out of college. The $33,540 debt load means graduates owe more than they'll earn in their first year, creating immediate financial pressure that's unusual even for liberal arts degrees.

To put this in perspective, sociology graduates from NC State earn $35,510 starting out—40% more—while UNC-Pembroke and Fayetteville State both produce significantly stronger outcomes with similar debt levels. Even within North Carolina, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile for earnings while carrying above-average debt. The university serves primarily lower-income students (51% receive Pell grants), making these outcomes particularly concerning for families counting on college to improve their financial position.

If your child is committed to sociology, they should understand they'll likely need graduate school or a strategic career pivot to reach comfortable earnings. The debt-to-income math here is difficult—monthly loan payments will consume a substantial portion of take-home pay on a $25,000 salary. Consider whether that four-year investment of time and money might be better spent at a North Carolina public university with stronger placement, or whether community college followed by transfer could achieve similar credentials at lower cost.