Sociology at University of Connecticut-Stamford

UConn-Stamford's sociology program starts graduates at below-average salaries—$31,913 puts them in just the 32nd percentile nationally—but what happens next tells a different story. Within four years, earnings jump to $49,247, a 54% increase that substantially outpaces typical sociology graduate trajectories. That fourth-year number approaches what Trinity College grads earn immediately, though they started $18,000 higher.

The program sits at Connecticut's median for both earnings and debt, landing at the 60th percentile statewide—solid middle ground in a state with 19 sociology programs. The $22,500 in debt is manageable given the earnings growth, though that first year will feel tight with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71. The Stamford campus serves a primarily working-class population (half receive Pell grants), and many graduates likely use that first year to gain footing in entry-level positions before advancing.

The real question is what drives that income growth—whether it's the Greater New York metro job market, graduate school, or career switching. For families comfortable with a slower financial start in exchange for strong medium-term prospects, this works. But students expecting immediate post-graduation earnings should know they'll likely be earning less than peers at Eastern or Central Connecticut initially, even if they catch up later.