Sociology at University at Buffalo

UB's sociology program shows a strikingly uneven path: graduates start below $30,000 in their first year—placing them in just the 13th percentile nationally—but earnings nearly double to nearly $50,000 by year four. That 73% growth rate is remarkable and suggests many graduates find their footing after a slow start, though it raises questions about what happens in those early years. At the 40th percentile among New York sociology programs, this sits squarely in the middle of the state pack, nowhere near the $58,000+ that Columbia or Colgate graduates command but well ahead of many smaller schools.

The $18,945 in debt is a genuine bright spot, coming in about $6,000 below both state and national medians. That manageable debt load matters when first-year earnings are so low—the 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates aren't drowning, even if they're treading water initially. By year four, with earnings approaching $50,000, that debt becomes much easier to handle.

For parents, the question is whether your child can weather those first few years of sub-$30,000 salaries. If they need immediate financial independence, this will be tough. But if they can manage lean early years—perhaps with family support or a lower cost of living—the trajectory suggests this program sets up longer-term stability, all without crushing debt.