Sociology at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

UW-Stevens Point's sociology program ranks in the top quartile nationally for earnings—a noteworthy achievement given the field's reputation for modest salaries. First-year graduates earn $37,888, which beats the national median for sociology by over $3,700 and places this program in the 79th percentile nationwide. Within Wisconsin, it holds its own against larger flagships, trailing UW-Milwaukee by less than $600 annually and actually outearning UW-Madison graduates in this field.

The debt picture reinforces the value: at $25,968, graduates carry essentially the state median burden, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. This means graduates can expect to earn back their total debt in roughly eight months of work—a sustainable starting point for recent college graduates. The 16% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests career progression rather than stagnation, with four-year salaries reaching nearly $44,000.

For families weighing sociology programs in Wisconsin, Stevens Point offers better outcomes than its 90% admission rate might suggest. The combination of top-quartile national earnings, reasonable debt, and steady salary growth makes this a solid choice among state options, particularly for students seeking the liberal arts experience without the premium price tag of schools like Beloit or Saint Norbert.