Sociology at University of Dubuque

The four-year earnings figure of $63,868 tells an optimistic story, but the first-year estimate—based on comparable Iowa sociology programs—suggests a tougher launch at around $38,000. That's roughly in line with what other Iowa schools report for sociology graduates, though notably higher than the national median of $34,102. With an estimated $25,000 in debt, the burden looks manageable at first glance, representing about two-thirds of first-year earnings. However, the gap between year one and year four raises questions about career trajectory: does this program lead to paths with strong mid-career growth, or are graduates spending years in entry-level roles before breaking through?

The reality is that sociology programs vary dramatically in their outcomes even within Iowa—compare the $41,250 at University of Northern Iowa to Grinnell's $28,216—and without actual data specific to University of Dubuque's graduates, you're essentially betting on where this program falls in that range. The estimated figures suggest middle-of-the-pack performance, which isn't alarming but isn't particularly reassuring either for a degree that often requires graduate school for higher-paying career paths. If your child is committed to sociology and plans to stay in Iowa, the debt level shouldn't be crushing, but press the school on where their graduates actually land and whether the program connects students to internships and networks that accelerate early-career earnings.