Sociology at Rivier University

Comparable sociology programs in New Hampshire suggest first-year earnings around $42,000—substantially above the national median of $34,100 for this field. With estimated debt of $26,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio sits at a manageable 0.62, meaning graduates would owe roughly seven months of their first-year salary. This positions the program in reasonable territory financially, though it's worth noting that New Hampshire's sociology market appears stronger than what graduates might find elsewhere in the country.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates derived from peer programs, since Rivier's own graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to report. The state earnings figure comes from just three New Hampshire programs, and it's heavily influenced by outcomes at UNH and particularly Dartmouth, where sociology graduates earn over $64,000. Whether Rivier's specific program delivers outcomes closer to these benchmarks or falls below them is simply unknown.

For families considering this investment, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable prospects if your child plans to work in New Hampshire after graduation and if Rivier's outcomes align with state averages. The debt load is moderate enough to manage on typical sociology earnings. However, given the lack of program-specific data, you'd want to ask the school directly about graduate outcomes and job placement before committing.