Location: Edmond, OK•In-State Tuition: $8,522•Out-of-State Tuition: $19,409•Admission Rate: 82%•Avg SAT: 1050
Median Earnings (1yr)
$37,727
78th percentile
60th percentile in Oklahoma
Median Debt
$28,000
12% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.74 ManageableSample: 62 graduates

Analysis

University of Central Oklahoma's sociology program outperforms most competitors despite carrying slightly higher debt than typical. Graduates earn $37,727 in their first year—exceeding the national median by 11% and ranking in the 78th percentile nationally. Within Oklahoma, these earnings place in the 60th percentile, actually edging out Oklahoma State and matching OU-Norman's outcomes. The $28,000 median debt sits about $3,400 above state norms, but with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74, graduates owe less than what they'll earn in their first year.

The earnings trajectory looks particularly solid, with graduates seeing an 18% income increase by year four, reaching $44,557. This isn't the meteoric rise you'd see in technical fields, but it's steady upward momentum that suggests graduates are building sustainable careers. The moderate sample size of 30-100 graduates provides reasonable confidence in these figures.

For families weighing sociology programs in Oklahoma, UCO offers above-average outcomes at a modest premium. The extra $3,400 in debt buys access to a program that demonstrably outperforms most state alternatives. If your student is committed to sociology and staying in Oklahoma, this represents a measured bet—not a bargain, but clear value relative to peers.

Where University of Central Oklahoma Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all sociology bachelors's programs nationally

University of Central OklahomaOther sociology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Central Oklahoma graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Central Oklahoma earns $38k — 78th percentile among sociology bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Central Oklahoma$37,727$44,557+18%
Dartmouth College$64,377$71,802+12%
University of Notre Dame$35,915$71,102+98%
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus$35,917$41,962+17%
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus$33,365$39,574+19%

Compare to Similar Programs in Oklahoma

Sociology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Oklahoma (15 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Central OklahomaEdmond$8,522$37,727$44,557$28,0000.74
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman$9,595$35,917$41,962$24,1720.67
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater$10,234$33,365$39,574$24,7510.74
National Median—$34,102—$25,0000.73

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with sociology graduates

Sociologists

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

$101,690/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other

All postsecondary social sciences teachers not listed separately.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Central Oklahoma, approximately 35% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 62 graduates with reported earnings and 84 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.