Sociology at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

A $26,306 starting salary—roughly $13 an hour—makes this one of the lowest-earning sociology programs in the country, landing in just the 5th percentile nationally. While it performs closer to the Louisiana median (40th percentile in-state), that's cold comfort when even the state benchmark of $27,846 is well below the national standard of $34,102. The $24,250 in debt isn't catastrophic, but it equals nearly a full year's salary, which means graduates will be managing loan payments on an income that barely covers basic expenses in today's economy.

The small sample size here is crucial—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a few outliers could be dragging down what might otherwise be a more typical outcome. However, even giving the program that benefit of the doubt, neighboring Louisiana schools are producing notably better results: Nicholls State and McNeese State graduates earn $4,000-$5,000 more right out of the gate with similar debt loads.

If your child is set on studying sociology in Louisiana, this program requires serious scrutiny. The combination of below-average earnings and the uncertainty of small sample data suggests looking at LSU or the regional alternatives first. At minimum, any student considering this path needs a concrete plan for graduate school or a specific career track, because $26,000 leaves almost no margin for error.