Sociology at Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Wheaton's sociology program places graduates well below what other Massachusetts schools deliver, with first-year earnings of $29,953—roughly $7,600 less than the state median and $4,000 below the national benchmark. Among 42 Massachusetts sociology programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of Bay State schools produce better initial outcomes. The gap becomes stark when comparing to nearby liberal arts competitors: Mount Holyoke graduates earn $10,700 more in their first year.

The $27,000 debt load matches the state median but creates a tight financial squeeze against these lower earnings. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.90, graduates face nearly a full year's salary in loans—manageable in absolute terms, but challenging when earning power lags this far behind state peers. For a selective school with a 1321 average SAT, these outcomes raise questions about whether the college's investment translates to labor market advantage.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means one or two career paths could skew these numbers significantly. Still, even accounting for statistical noise, the consistent underperformance relative to both state and national benchmarks suggests this program struggles to launch graduates into higher-earning sociology careers. If your child is set on sociology in Massachusetts, several schools demonstrate substantially better earning trajectories without necessarily requiring more debt.