Sociology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

At $35,415 in first-year earnings, SIUE's sociology program sits squarely in the middle—ranking at the 60th percentile both nationally and among Illinois programs. That means graduates earn slightly more than typical sociology majors, though they're trailing the state's top performers by $5,000-7,000 annually. The manageable debt load of $26,500 translates to a 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio, which is actually favorable for a liberal arts degree where many programs push closer to 1.0. Graduates here borrow about average for sociology majors in Illinois, but they're emerging with earnings that justify that investment.

The modest 9% earnings growth to $38,639 by year four suggests these graduates find stable employment rather than rapid career acceleration. For context, this puts them ahead of many peer institutions but well behind programs like Chicago State or McKendree, where sociology graduates earn over $40,000. The 97% admission rate and Pell grant participation indicate SIUE serves a broad population, providing accessible higher education without saddling students with unmanageable debt.

For families considering this program: you're looking at a middle-of-the-road outcome. Your graduate will likely find work and manage their debt payments, but shouldn't expect dramatic salary growth or to match top-earning peers in the state. If your student is committed to sociology and values an affordable state university experience, this represents a reasonable path—just understand the realistic earnings ceiling.