Sociology at University of Central Arkansas

UCA's sociology program starts graduates at roughly $32,000 annually, which trails both Arkansas and national medians by a few thousand dollars. Among the state's 11 sociology programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile—essentially middle-of-the-pack performance in a state where sociology degrees already tend to earn less than the national norm. Even Arkansas State and the flagship University of Arkansas deliver moderately better starting outcomes.

The encouraging part is solid earnings growth: graduates see a 24% income jump by year four, reaching nearly $40,000. The debt burden of $26,372 is typical for the field nationally, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83. This means graduates owe less than one year's starting salary—reasonable by liberal arts standards, though that first year will still feel tight financially.

For families considering this path, understand that sociology degrees rarely lead to high earnings regardless of where you attend. UCA delivers average results in a state with below-average outcomes for this major. If your child is passionate about sociology, the debt here won't trap them, but they should have realistic expectations about post-graduation income and consider career plans that might require additional credentials or strategic job searching to improve those starting numbers.