Sociology at University of Idaho

University of Idaho sociology graduates start with earnings below the national median for the major, but they're actually doing relatively well within Idaho—landing in the 60th percentile among the state's five sociology programs. That $31,440 first-year salary trails Brigham Young University-Idaho by only $2,000 and beats both Idaho State and Boise State. The debt load of $23,572 is reasonable at 0.75 times first-year earnings, meaning graduates could theoretically pay it off in under a year if they dedicated their entire salary to it. By year four, earnings grow to $38,613—a solid 23% increase that actually surpasses the national 75th percentile for sociology programs.

The challenge here is that sociology as a field simply doesn't pay well out of the gate, regardless of where you study it. The national median is only $34,102, and even top programs struggle to break $40,000 in early-career earnings. Within that context, U of I prepares students about as well as can be expected in Idaho's job market, and the moderate debt load won't become an anchor. If your child is committed to sociology and planning to stay in Idaho, this program delivers comparable value to the state's other options while keeping debt manageable.