Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,917
Est. from OK median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,000
Est. from national median (131 programs)

Analysis

Oklahoma City University's sociology program carries an estimated $26,000 in debt—slightly above both the national and state medians for this degree—while peer programs in Oklahoma suggest first-year earnings around $35,917. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 isn't alarming by itself, but it's worth noting that sociology bachelor's degrees typically produce modest starting salaries nationwide, with Oklahoma's median sitting just above the national benchmark of $34,102.

The challenge here is that these figures come from comparable programs rather than OCU's actual graduate outcomes, making it harder to assess whether this specific program delivers advantages that justify its slightly higher debt load. Looking at reported data from other Oklahoma schools, sociology grads' earnings cluster tightly between $33,000 and $38,000, suggesting limited variation in outcomes across institutions. That raises questions about whether a private university education—which typically costs more than public alternatives—translates into meaningfully better career positioning in this field.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether OCU offers distinctive opportunities—research connections, graduate school placement support, or career networks—that offset the additional borrowing. Without concrete outcome data for this specific program, you're essentially betting that OCU's version of this degree performs at least as well as similar programs statewide while carrying somewhat higher debt.

Where Oklahoma City University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all sociology bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Oklahoma

Sociology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Oklahoma (15 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma City$33,586$35,917*—$26,000*—
University of Central OklahomaEdmond$8,522$37,727*$44,557$28,000*0.74
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman$9,595$35,917*$41,962$24,172*0.67
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater$10,234$33,365*$39,574$24,751*0.74
National Median—$34,102*—$25,000*0.73
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with sociology graduates

Sociologists

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

$101,690/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other

All postsecondary social sciences teachers not listed separately.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Oklahoma City University, approximately 23% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in OK. Actual outcomes may vary.