Sociology (Bachelor's Degree) at Westmont College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$34,714

Est. from CA median (43 programs)

Median Debt

$23,048

8% below national median

Analysis

Westmont's sociology bachelor's costs students $23,048 in debt—about $6,500 more than the typical California sociology program—while first-year earnings of $34,714 track exactly with the state median for these degrees. That debt premium matters when you consider that comparable programs in California suggest earnings that barely exceed what many service jobs now pay, making the 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio feel heavier than it looks on paper.

The selective admission profile (1367 SAT average, just 19% Pell students) signals Westmont draws academically strong students who could likely access more affordable options in the UC or CSU systems, where sociology programs produce similar or better outcomes with significantly less debt. When top California sociology programs like Santa Clara ($53,612) and UC Berkeley ($40,774) show what's possible with actual reported earnings, paying above-average debt for median-level returns deserves scrutiny.

For families banking on Westmont's intimate campus experience, the financial equation requires honest math: this degree's estimated earning power suggests your child will need roughly eight months of gross income to clear their debt—manageable if they land quickly in their field, but tight if they struggle in the graduate job market or pursue further education. Unless the fit at Westmont is genuinely irreplaceable, exploring California's public universities could deliver comparable outcomes with debt totals closer to $16,500.

Where Westmont College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Sociology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (64 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Westmont CollegeSanta Barbara	$51,790	$34,714*	—	$23,048	—
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara	$59,241	$53,612*	$62,009	—	—
National UniversitySan Diego	$13,320	$46,505*	$45,370	$28,125	0.60
Ashford UniversitySan Diego	$13,160	$43,202*	$37,947	$39,041	0.90
Occidental CollegeLos Angeles	$63,446	$42,653*	$48,239	$21,250	0.50
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley	$14,850	$40,774*	$64,119	$13,131	0.32
National Median	—	$34,102*	—	$25,000	0.73

* 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 Westmont College, approximately 19% 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 43 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.