Sociology and Anthropology at University of Puget Sound

The $19,495 first-year earnings from University of Puget Sound's Sociology and Anthropology program land in the 5th percentile nationally—a troubling figure that reflects serious early-career struggles. While graduates here actually match the Washington state median for this major, that's only because there's just one other program in the state for comparison. The more telling benchmark is the national one: typical sociology and anthropology graduates elsewhere earn $28,378 their first year out, meaning Puget Sound graduates are making 31% less than their peers across the country.

The debt load of $24,924 seems manageable in absolute terms, but relative to that first-year income, it creates a concerning 1.28 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates are carrying debt equal to 15 months of their annual income, which can make those early years financially stressful even with income-based repayment options. For context, this is a selective private institution (average SAT 1332) with relatively few low-income students, yet the post-graduation outcomes suggest the premium parents pay isn't translating into stronger career positioning.

The reality here is stark: if your child is drawn to sociology or anthropology, this program's outcomes suggest they'd be better served at most other institutions offering this major. The combination of bottom-tier national earnings and significant debt creates financial headwinds that could affect major life decisions for years after graduation.