Sociology at Saint Michael's College

Saint Michael's sociology graduates start at $36,605—substantially above both Vermont's median of $30,083 and the national benchmark of $34,102. Within Vermont's limited sociology landscape, this program ranks in the 60th percentile, outperforming even the University of Vermont despite Saint Michael's 92% admission rate making it far less selective than some competitors.

The $27,000 debt load sits comfortably below national norms, creating a manageable 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio at graduation. More importantly, earnings climb 20% to $44,045 by year four—a trajectory that improves the financial picture considerably. This combination of below-average debt and above-average starting pay gives graduates breathing room that many sociology programs don't offer.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes will vary more than at larger programs. Still, for Vermont families weighing sociology programs, Saint Michael's appears to deliver stronger early-career outcomes than most in-state alternatives, without the debt burden that often accompanies private liberal arts colleges. If your child is committed to sociology and wants to stay in Vermont, the numbers suggest this is a relatively solid choice—just understand you're looking at a small sample that may not fully represent future results.