Sociology at Notre Dame de Namur University

A $26,500 debt load for outcomes that peer sociology programs in California typically produce puts this program squarely in the middle of the pack—the debt burden sits at the 31st percentile nationally, meaning roughly two-thirds of similar programs leave graduates owing more. But context matters here: while the estimated first-year earnings of $34,714 align closely with what sociology majors earn across California, the debt at Notre Dame de Namur runs $10,000 higher than the state median of $16,500 for this field. That gap reflects the realities of private university pricing, even as the earnings trajectory appears comparable to state schools.

The 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment under standard federal loan terms, and sociology programs nationally tend to produce consistent early-career outcomes regardless of institution prestige—notice that Berkeley's sociology graduates, based on reported data, earn only about $6,000 more in year one than what similar California programs typically produce. What you're really evaluating is whether the Notre Dame de Namur experience justifies that extra $10,000 in debt for outcomes that public alternatives might deliver more affordably. Since these figures are estimates drawn from peer programs rather than verified outcomes from this specific school, ask the university directly about recent graduate employment and whether their career services provide strong pathways into fields where sociology degrees command better compensation.