Sociology at Tennessee State University

Tennessee State's sociology graduates earn slightly above both state and national medians—landing in the 60th percentile statewide—but that comes with notably higher debt than typical for this field. At $37,500, graduates carry 50% more debt than the national median for sociology programs, placing this in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of programs saddle students with less debt). With first-year earnings around $35,000, graduates face roughly $1.07 in debt for every dollar they earn initially.

The program performs competitively within Tennessee, trailing only UT-Knoxville and Tennessee Tech among major state programs. However, the debt load is concerning for a field where earnings start modestly and grow slowly. Given that over half of TSU students receive Pell grants, many families are already stretching financially—adding $37,500 in debt for a $35,000 starting salary creates real monthly payment pressure.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly year to year, so this snapshot may not reflect typical outcomes. For families weighing this option, the key question is whether the higher debt justifies the moderate earnings advantage over cheaper in-state alternatives. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend TSU specifically, sociology students might find better value at programs with similar outcomes but substantially lower debt burdens.