Sociology at University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB's sociology program produces earnings that lag significantly behind both national and state benchmarks, with first-year graduates earning just $28,137—about $6,000 below the national median and $1,200 below Alabama's median. While the program sits at the 40th percentile statewide (meaning it performs worse than 60% of Alabama sociology programs), that's still concerning when Auburn sociology graduates start nearly $7,000 higher. The debt load of $28,979 exceeds both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio slightly above 1.0 that suggests graduates will need more than a year's full salary to clear their debt.

The positive story here is genuine earnings growth—24% over four years brings graduates to nearly $35,000, which actually exceeds the national median. This upward trajectory suggests the degree does provide career mobility, even if the starting point is weak. However, with a sample size under 30 graduates, these figures could swing substantially with just a few data points.

For families considering UAB's sociology program, understand that you're looking at below-average starting salaries paired with above-average debt. If your student is set on sociology in Alabama and can minimize borrowing, the growth pattern offers some hope. But if they're borrowing the full median amount, they'd be better positioned at Auburn or even University of North Alabama, where starting salaries provide more breathing room from day one.