Est. Earnings (1yr)
$38,075
Est. from KS median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from KS median (5 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable sociology programs in Kansas, Pittsburg State appears positioned right in the middle of the state's outcomes—neither standout nor concerning. The estimated $38,075 first-year earnings track exactly with the state median and sit comfortably above the national median of $34,102, suggesting that Kansas sociology graduates generally fare better than their counterparts elsewhere. The estimated $27,000 debt load produces a manageable 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly 70% of their first year's salary.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With small graduate cohorts forcing the DOE to suppress Pittsburg State's actual data, we're working from state averages that include programs ranging from Kansas State's $43,000 outcomes down to Emporia State's $29,000. Your child could land anywhere in that $14,000 spread. What we do know is that sociology bachelor's degrees typically lead to careers in social services, non-profits, and government—fields where earnings grow slowly and geographic location matters considerably for job availability.

For an accessible state university with an 88% admission rate, these projected outcomes suggest reasonable value if your child has clear career goals that leverage the degree. But the lack of program-specific data means you're making this decision somewhat blind—it's worth reaching out to Pittsburg State's career services to understand where their sociology graduates actually land and whether those outcomes align with your family's expectations.

Where Pittsburg State University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

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

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg$8,008$38,075*—$27,000*—
Kansas State UniversityManhattan$10,942$42,985*$40,827$25,946*0.60
University of KansasLawrence$11,700$42,703*$52,185$23,001*0.54
Fort Hays State UniversityHays$5,633$38,075*$42,654$33,482*0.88
Wichita State UniversityWichita$9,322$35,236*$34,049$30,500*0.87
Emporia State UniversityEmporia$7,356$29,313*$32,383$27,000*0.92
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 Pittsburg State University, approximately 32% 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 5 similar programs in KS. Actual outcomes may vary.