Sociology at University of Colorado Colorado Springs

UCCS sociology graduates start at $27,226—roughly $7,000 below Colorado's median for sociology majors and landing in just the 5th percentile nationally. That's a significant earnings disadvantage out of the gate. While the moderate debt load of $22,625 isn't catastrophic, combining below-average earnings with above-average debt (66th percentile) creates a tight financial squeeze in those critical first years after graduation. The 44% earnings jump to $39,102 by year four is promising and suggests graduates find their footing, but even that improved figure remains below what Adams State or Western Colorado sociology grads earn right from year one.

The comparison to other Colorado sociology programs is telling: UCCS ranks near the bottom of the state's 14 programs, with five schools delivering substantially higher starting outcomes. Given the university's 97% admission rate, families might reasonably expect this program to offer accessible education with competitive results—instead, it delivers accessibility without the earnings to match. The sample size is moderate, lending some confidence to these figures.

For anxious parents watching finances closely, this program asks graduates to weather several lean years before reaching earnings that peer institutions deliver immediately. Unless location or specific faculty expertise makes UCCS the only viable option, Colorado families would likely see better returns from Metropolitan State, CU Denver, or even CU Boulder's sociology programs, all of which start graduates $10,000-$15,000 higher annually.