Sociology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC-Chapel Hill sociology graduates face a rough first year—earning $30,623 puts them in just the 23rd percentile nationally and below North Carolina's median of $31,728. That's sobering for a highly selective flagship university where incoming students average 1454 on the SAT. Duke and Wake Forest sociology grads earn 50% more right out of the gate, and even NC State graduates start $5,000 ahead.

The redemption story here is time. Four years out, median earnings jump to $51,279—a 68% increase that significantly outpaces typical sociology graduate trajectories. Still, that debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 in year one means recent graduates are earning barely double their $14,925 debt load during a crucial period for establishing financial footing. The program does manage exceptionally low debt (5th percentile nationally), which cushions the weak initial earnings.

For families paying in-state tuition, this becomes a calculated bet: can your child weather lean early-career years banking on UNC's network to pay off later? The earnings growth suggests many do find their stride, but families should recognize they're not getting the immediate return that UNC's prestige might imply. If your student needs income stability quickly after graduation, sociology at Chapel Hill underperforms its own reputation.