Location: Petersburg, VA•In-State Tuition: $9,755•Out-of-State Tuition: $22,006•Admission Rate: 89%•Avg SAT: 917
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,946
Est. from VA median (11 programs)
Median Debt
$31,000
24% above national median

Analysis

Virginia State University serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (71%), and while specific outcomes for its sociology graduates aren't publicly available, comparable programs across Virginia suggest first-year earnings around $37,946—slightly above the national median for sociology degrees. The $31,000 in debt sits at just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of sociology programs nationwide leave students with more debt. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82, graduates would need roughly 10 months of gross income to cover their loans, which is manageable for a social science degree.

The estimated earnings align closely with what top Virginia programs actually report (UVA's $45,786 being the notable exception), suggesting VSU's sociology program may deliver comparable market outcomes to its state peers. For families concerned about affordability—particularly given the high Pell percentage—the relatively modest debt load is encouraging. Sociology degrees typically don't command high starting salaries regardless of institution, so keeping borrowing under control matters more than chasing marginal earnings differences.

The caveat: these are estimates based on similar Virginia programs, not tracked outcomes for VSU sociology graduates specifically. For a family seeking affordability and access, the debt picture looks solid. But if your student is comparing this to programs with actual reported earnings—or considering fields with clearer career trajectories—you'll want to weigh the uncertainty against the financial accessibility VSU offers.

Where Virginia State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all sociology bachelors's programs nationally

Virginia State University (estimated ±10%)Other sociology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Virginia

Sociology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Virginia (31 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Virginia State UniversityPetersburg$9,755$37,946*—$31,000—
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville$20,986$45,786*$56,011$20,5000.45
Randolph-Macon CollegeAshland$48,002$39,656*$42,175$27,0000.68
Roanoke CollegeSalem$36,774$38,983*—$27,0000.69
George Mason UniversityFairfax$13,815$38,916*$47,477$20,5140.53
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg$15,478$38,768*$47,684$22,8590.59
National Median—$34,102*—$25,0000.73
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with sociology graduates

Sociologists

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

$101,690/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in sociology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other

All postsecondary social sciences teachers not listed separately.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Virginia State University, approximately 71% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 11 similar programs in VA. Actual outcomes may vary.