Sociology at Old Dominion University

Old Dominion's sociology graduates start at $37,946—placing them in the 79th percentile nationally but right at the median for Virginia programs. That's the tension here: strong compared to sociology programs across the country, middle-of-the-pack at home. With debt around $26,100 (a 0.69 ratio to first-year earnings), students are borrowing manageable amounts, and earnings do climb to $42,426 by year four. For families comparing Virginia schools, ODU delivers similar outcomes to George Mason and Virginia Tech's sociology programs at a fraction of the admission selectivity and likely lower tuition for in-state students.

The practical reality is that this program won't match UVA's $45,786 starting salary, but it outperforms 79% of sociology programs nationwide while keeping debt controlled. The 12% earnings growth suggests graduates gain traction in their careers rather than plateauing immediately. For students interested in sociology who may not be competitive for UVA admission, Old Dominion offers solid preparation without the debt burden that often accompanies liberal arts degrees. Given the university's 91% admission rate and significant Pell enrollment, it's serving first-generation and working-class students reasonably well in a field that doesn't typically command high starting salaries.