Sociology at Smith College

Smith's sociology graduates start at $35,252, which trails the Massachusetts median for the field by about $2,300. That's unexpected from a school as selective as Smith (20% acceptance rate, 1480 SAT average), though it's worth noting the small sample size here—fewer than 30 recent graduates. More concerning: while these grads show strong 44% earnings growth over four years, they're still earning less than peers from comparable Massachusetts schools like Mount Holyoke ($40,675) and dramatically less than those from Boston College ($48,091) by year four.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $19,000, Smith sociology graduates carry roughly $8,000 less debt than the typical Massachusetts sociology major. That lower debt burden means the program delivers a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54—manageable by most standards. However, you're paying elite-school tuition for outcomes that place in just the 40th percentile statewide for this field.

For anxious parents, the calculation is straightforward: if your daughter is choosing Smith specifically for sociology and cost matters, understand she'll likely earn less initially than peers at other Massachusetts schools. The prestige and connections matter most if she's planning graduate school or career pivots where Smith's broader institutional reputation opens doors—not for immediate sociology-related employment outcomes.