Sociology at Washington State University

Washington State University's sociology program outperforms most of its competition, with graduates earning nearly $40,000 in their first year—ranking in the 90th percentile nationally. That's impressive until you look within Washington state, where it falls to the 60th percentile. Among the 13 schools offering sociology in Washington, WSU sits just behind University of Washington-Seattle but well ahead of programs at Western Washington and Gonzaga. The debt load of $21,475 is actually slightly better than both state and national medians, though the relatively low starting salary still means graduates spend about half a year's earnings paying it down.

The 6% earnings growth to $42,242 by year four is modest but steady, and the combination of reasonable debt with above-average earnings makes this a solid choice—particularly for in-state students paying lower tuition. The program's accessibility (85% admission rate, 26% Pell students) means it's serving a broader population without sacrificing outcomes.

For Washington families, this is a straightforward value proposition: your student will likely out-earn sociology graduates from most schools while managing debt comparable to state norms. Just recognize that sociology generally doesn't command high salaries anywhere, and if your child can get into UW-Seattle, that program edges ahead slightly in earnings potential.