Sociology at University of California-Riverside

UC Riverside's sociology program shows impressive earning potential that takes time to materialize, but starts from a concerning low point. While graduates see remarkable 56% income growth from year one to year four—reaching $45,734—that initial $29,367 salary ranks in just the 17th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among California sociology programs. This puts new graduates well behind peers at top California schools like Santa Clara ($53,612) and even UC Berkeley ($40,774).

The debt picture offers some relief with $16,500 in median borrowing—matching the California average and sitting well below the national median of $25,000. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, meaning graduates can realistically handle their payments even during those challenging early career years. Nearly half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves many first-generation college students who may particularly benefit from the UC system's support network.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your child can weather those tough initial years when earnings lag significantly behind both state and national peers. The strong four-year growth suggests UC Riverside sociology graduates eventually find their footing, but the early struggle is real. This program works best for students who have family financial support during the post-graduation transition or who plan to pursue graduate school where the UC credential carries weight.