Sociology at University of St Thomas

A sociology degree from St. Thomas comes with an estimated $26,000 in debt—fairly typical for the field—while comparable programs across Minnesota suggest first-year earnings around $40,540. That earnings figure actually exceeds the national median for sociology graduates by nearly $6,500, reflecting Minnesota's stronger labor market for social science majors. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 falls within a manageable range, meaning graduates would owe roughly eight months of their first-year salary.

What's worth noting is that reported outcomes from Minnesota State schools like Winona State and Moorhead show first-year earnings in the low-to-mid $40,000s, suggesting St. Thomas graduates could land in similar territory. The field itself skews modest on earnings—even top programs nationally rarely crack $40,000 in year one—so families should expect steady but not spectacular financial returns. For students drawn to nonprofit work, social services, or research, these numbers align with typical career paths in the sector.

The uncertainty here is real: without actual outcome data for St. Thomas specifically, you're making an investment based on how peer programs perform. If your student is committed to sociology and values St. Thomas's private school environment, the estimated debt load won't be crushing. But if they're undecided on career direction or considering graduate school—common for sociology majors—factor in that additional borrowing before committing.