Sociology at University of Denver

A $26,000 debt load for estimated first-year earnings of $37,674 might seem reasonable at first glance—the 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within a manageable range. But here's what should concern you: peer sociology programs at other Colorado public universities report actual outcomes well above this estimate. Adams State grads earn $46,948 in their first year, while Western Colorado grads pull in $43,178. Even CU Boulder, the state's flagship, reports $37,958. The University of Denver's estimated figure is derived from the state median precisely because this program's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes.

That data suppression matters more than the numbers themselves. When a $70,000+ per year private university produces so few sociology graduates that their outcomes can't be tracked, you have to wonder about the program's viability and employment network. The smaller the program, the fewer alumni connections, campus recruiting relationships, and career services resources typically available. Meanwhile, you're paying private school tuition for outcomes that comparable programs suggest will be on par with—or potentially below—what state schools deliver at a fraction of the cost.

If your child is set on sociology at a selective private school, demand concrete evidence: job placement rates, alumni outcomes, specific employer relationships. Without hard data showing this program outperforms the state schools that cost far less, you're making an expensive bet on estimates.