Sociology at State University of New York at Oswego

SUNY Oswego's sociology program sits squarely in the middle of the pack—ranking around the 40th percentile among New York sociology programs—but carries slightly more debt than typical graduates in the state. Starting at $33,258, graduates earn modestly below both the state median ($33,500) and national average ($34,102), though debt levels of $27,282 exceed state norms by about $3,000.

The 12% earnings growth to $37,183 after four years is encouraging, putting later-career earnings near the national 75th percentile. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 isn't alarming—it's actually better than many liberal arts programs—but parents should recognize this isn't a fast-payoff degree. With the small sample size (under 30 graduates), these numbers could shift significantly year to year, so view them as directional rather than definitive.

For families considering SUNY Oswego, the real comparison isn't against Columbia's elite $58,000 outcomes but against other accessible SUNY options and CUNY schools like Brooklyn College ($41,062) or Lehman ($42,710), which deliver significantly stronger earnings for similar or lower debt. If your student is committed to sociology and values the Oswego campus experience, this program won't derail their finances. But if maximizing early earnings matters—especially for a major that often requires graduate school—other public options in New York offer better returns.