Sociology at University of Wisconsin-Parkside

UW-Parkside's sociology program sits in an awkward middle ground within Wisconsin. While it beats the national median for sociology earnings by a modest margin, it falls short of the state median—ranking in just the 40th percentile among Wisconsin's 21 sociology programs. Graduates earn roughly $1,500 less four years out than the typical Wisconsin sociology grad, and nearly $4,000 less than peers at UW-Stevens Point. The $26,250 debt load is reasonable but not particularly low, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that requires careful financial planning in those crucial first years.

The positive story here is genuine earnings growth—the 12% bump from year one to year four suggests graduates gain marketable skills and advance in their careers. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly with different cohorts, making this data less reliable than programs with larger track records.

For Wisconsin families, this translates to a clear reality: your child can likely find better sociology outcomes at other UW System schools without paying significantly more or taking on additional debt. Unless location in Kenosha specifically matters for family or work reasons, sister campuses like Stevens Point or Whitewater deliver stronger graduate earnings for comparable investment.