Sociology at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

The $48,416 that graduates earn by their fourth year tells the more important story here than the suppressed first-year figures. While UMass Dartmouth couldn't report initial earnings due to small sample sizes, peer sociology programs in Massachusetts suggest starting salaries around $37,500—putting graduates at a manageable 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio with an estimated $27,000 in loans. That four-year number, however, shows meaningful salary growth and lands in the territory where other Massachusetts schools with stronger selectivity profiles begin.

The program's actual four-year outcomes sit below Boston College's $48,091 or Tufts' $47,859, but those institutions draw from different applicant pools entirely. What matters more is how UMass Dartmouth compares to the typical Massachusetts sociology graduate: the four-year figure matches what you'd expect from state peers, while the estimated debt load aligns with statewide norms. The 92% admission rate and 36% Pell Grant population suggest this program serves students who might not access those elite alternatives.

For families weighing this investment, the trajectory from an estimated $37,500 start to nearly $49,000 by year four demonstrates earnings don't stagnate. The debt burden, while not trivial at $27,000, remains proportional to what other Massachusetts sociology programs produce. The absence of reported first-year data introduces uncertainty, but the actual four-year outcome provides concrete evidence of where graduates land with more experience.