Location: Lincoln, NE•In-State Tuition: $10,108•Out-of-State Tuition: $27,748•Admission Rate: 77%•Avg SAT: 1191
Median Earnings (1yr)
$36,809
71st percentile
60th percentile in Nebraska
Median Debt
$19,400
22% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.53 ManageableSample: 50 graduates

Analysis

Nebraska-Lincoln sociology graduates start with solid first-year earnings of $36,809, but what makes this program stand out is the impressive trajectory: earnings jump 38% to $50,722 by year four. This isn't the typical social sciences story of stagnant wages—these graduates are building momentum and pulling ahead of most comparable programs nationally.

The debt picture adds to the appeal. At $19,400, graduates owe roughly $6,000 less than the national median for sociology programs and significantly less than the $26,000 typical in Nebraska. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 means graduates carry debt equal to just over half their first-year salary, a manageable burden that becomes even more comfortable as earnings grow. Among Nebraska sociology programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings—middle of the pack locally but competitive with the state median.

The real value proposition here is earning potential that starts decent and improves substantially, paired with below-average debt. For families concerned about liberal arts degrees leading to dead-end wages, this program demonstrates that sociology graduates from Nebraska-Lincoln can build viable career paths. The moderate sample size means individual outcomes may vary, but the pattern of strong earnings growth is clear enough to take seriously.

Where University of Nebraska-Lincoln Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all sociology bachelors's programs nationally

University of Nebraska-LincolnOther sociology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Nebraska-Lincoln earns $37k — 71th percentile among sociology bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Nebraska-Lincoln$36,809$50,722+38%
Dartmouth College$64,377$71,802+12%
University of Notre Dame$35,915$71,102+98%
Doane University$32,351$45,774+41%
University of Nebraska at Omaha$40,871$43,564+7%

Compare to Similar Programs in Nebraska

Sociology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Nebraska (10 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln$10,108$36,809$50,722$19,4000.53
University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha$8,370$40,871$43,564$26,7500.65
Doane UniversityCrete$40,491$32,351$45,774$26,0000.80
National Median—$34,102—$25,0000.73

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with sociology graduates

Sociologists

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

$101,690/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other

All postsecondary social sciences teachers not listed separately.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Nebraska-Lincoln, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 50 graduates with reported earnings and 51 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.