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Sociology.
Master's Degree•186 Institutions
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.
Annual Full Cost vs. Median Earnings
Each dot represents one program at an institution. Shows the spread of annual sticker price (or net price if sticker price is unavailable) vs earnings 4 years post-grad.
Field Median ($41,565)
P25-P75 Interval ($37,208 - $59,203)
HS Baseline ($35,872)
Breakeven Line (0% ROI)
Institution | State | Earnings | Avg Net Price | Median Debt | Lifetime Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | NY | $93,752 Nat: $63,330 4yr Post-Grad | - /yr | $51,263 | +$186k |
Auburn | AL | - Nat: $63,330 | $24,323 /yr | - | -$0 |
University of South Alabama ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Mobile | AL | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,648 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tucson | AZ | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,674 /yr | - | -$0 |
Flagstaff | AZ | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,158 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fayetteville | AR | - Nat: $63,330 | $18,209 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bakersfield | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $5,652 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $3,967 /yr | - | -$0 |
Northridge | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $7,021 /yr | - | -$0 |
Berkeley | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,481 /yr | - | -$0 |
Davis | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,741 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $12,548 /yr | - | -$0 |
Riverside | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,304 /yr | - | -$0 |
Santa Barbara | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,109 /yr | - | -$0 |
Arcata | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,171 /yr | - | -$0 |
San Diego | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,364 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $32,740 /yr | - | -$0 |
Denver | CO | - Nat: $63,330 | $11,900 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fort Collins | CO | - Nat: $63,330 | $21,279 /yr | - | -$0 |
Greeley | CO | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,760 /yr | - | -$0 |
Storrs | CT | - Nat: $63,330 | $25,097 /yr | - | -$0 |
New Haven | CT | - Nat: $63,330 | $20,857 /yr | - | -$0 |
Newark | DE | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,799 /yr | - | -$0 |
Washington | DC | - Nat: $63,330 | $41,943 /yr | - | -$0 |
Washington | DC | - Nat: $63,330 | $29,561 /yr | - | -$0 |
Washington | DC | - Nat: $63,330 | $36,586 /yr | - | -$0 |
Orlando | FL | - Nat: $63,330 | $10,411 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boca Raton | FL | - Nat: $63,330 | $8,752 /yr | - | -$0 |
Miami | FL | - Nat: $63,330 | $9,288 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tallahassee | FL | - Nat: $63,330 | $11,297 /yr | - | -$0 |
Gainesville | FL | - Nat: $63,330 | $6,541 /yr | - | -$0 |
Coral Gables | FL | - Nat: $63,330 | $37,244 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tampa | FL | - Nat: $63,330 | $9,812 /yr | - | -$0 |
Clark Atlanta University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Atlanta | GA | - Nat: $63,330 | $37,702 /yr | - | -$0 |
Atlanta | GA | - Nat: $63,330 | $22,585 /yr | - | -$0 |
Atlanta | GA | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,931 /yr | - | -$0 |
Athens | GA | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,936 /yr | - | -$0 |
Valdosta State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Valdosta | GA | - Nat: $63,330 | $10,945 /yr | - | -$0 |
University of West Georgia ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Carrollton | GA | - Nat: $63,330 | $12,786 /yr | - | -$0 |
Honolulu | HI | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,664 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pocatello | ID | - Nat: $63,330 | $12,193 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chicago | IL | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,860 /yr | - | -$0 |
Champaign | IL | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,355 /yr | - | -$0 |
Normal | IL | - Nat: $63,330 | $19,398 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chicago | IL | - Nat: $63,330 | $36,079 /yr | - | -$0 |
Dekalb | IL | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,391 /yr | - | -$0 |
Evanston | IL | - Nat: $63,330 | $29,167 /yr | - | -$0 |
Roosevelt University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Chicago | IL | - Nat: $63,330 | $20,194 /yr | - | -$0 |
Edwardsville | IL | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,889 /yr | - | -$0 |
Macomb | IL | - Nat: $63,330 | $12,937 /yr | - | -$0 |
Muncie | IN | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,940 /yr | - | -$0 |
Indianapolis | IN | - Nat: $63,330 | $11,668 /yr | - | -$0 |
Indianapolis | IN | - Nat: $63,330 | $21,602 /yr | - | -$0 |
Notre Dame | IN | - Nat: $63,330 | $26,780 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ames | IA | - Nat: $63,330 | $18,589 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ashford University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. San Diego | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $31,266 /yr | - | -$0 |
Manhattan | KS | - Nat: $63,330 | $19,406 /yr | - | -$0 |
Wichita | KS | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,194 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lexington | KY | - Nat: $63,330 | $18,851 /yr | - | -$0 |
Louisville | KY | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,988 /yr | - | -$0 |
Morehead | KY | - Nat: $63,330 | $9,793 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bowling Green | KY | - Nat: $63,330 | $10,990 /yr | - | -$0 |
Baton Rouge | LA | - Nat: $63,330 | $19,151 /yr | - | -$0 |
University of New Orleans ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. New Orleans | LA | - Nat: $63,330 | $12,384 /yr | - | -$0 |
Southeastern Louisiana University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Hammond | LA | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,154 /yr | - | -$0 |
Baltimore | MD | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,467 /yr | - | -$0 |
College Park | MD | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,678 /yr | - | -$0 |
Baltimore | MD | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,985 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chestnut Hill | MA | - Nat: $63,330 | $41,704 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boston | MA | - Nat: $63,330 | $24,402 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boston | MA | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,707 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boston | MA | - Nat: $63,330 | $29,618 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ypsilanti | MI | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,407 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ann Arbor | MI | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,138 /yr | - | -$0 |
East Lansing | MI | - Nat: $63,330 | $19,680 /yr | - | -$0 |
Detroit | MI | - Nat: $63,330 | $12,766 /yr | - | -$0 |
Kalamazoo | MI | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,273 /yr | - | -$0 |
Mankato | MN | - Nat: $63,330 | $19,139 /yr | - | -$0 |
Minneapolis | MN | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,778 /yr | - | -$0 |
Jackson State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Jackson | MS | - Nat: $63,330 | $23,836 /yr | - | -$0 |
Mississippi State | MS | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,595 /yr | - | -$0 |
Warrensburg | MO | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,462 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbia | MO | - Nat: $63,330 | $20,268 /yr | - | -$0 |
Kansas City | MO | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,310 /yr | - | -$0 |
Saint Louis | MO | - Nat: $63,330 | $24,398 /yr | - | -$0 |
The University of Montana ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Missoula | MT | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,784 /yr | - | -$0 |
Omaha | NE | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,441 /yr | - | -$0 |
Las Vegas | NV | - Nat: $63,330 | $10,359 /yr | - | -$0 |
Reno | NV | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,927 /yr | - | -$0 |
Durham | NH | - Nat: $63,330 | $23,805 /yr | - | -$0 |
Union | NJ | - Nat: $63,330 | $12,447 /yr | - | -$0 |
Wayne | NJ | - Nat: $63,330 | $18,745 /yr | - | -$0 |
Albuquerque | NM | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,489 /yr | - | -$0 |
New York | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $21,590 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ithaca | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $28,690 /yr | - | -$0 |
Brooklyn | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $3,103 /yr | - | -$0 |
New York | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $2,984 /yr | - | -$0 |
New York | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $58,741 /yr | - | -$0 |
New York | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $37,050 /yr | - | -$0 |
Albany | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,167 /yr | - | -$0 |
Vestal | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $21,620 /yr | - | -$0 |
Buffalo | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $20,995 /yr | - | -$0 |
Utica | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,164 /yr | - | -$0 |
Syracuse | NY | - Nat: $63,330 | $38,793 /yr | - | -$0 |
Durham | NC | - Nat: $63,330 | $29,612 /yr | - | -$0 |
Greenville | NC | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,739 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fayetteville State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Fayetteville | NC | - Nat: $63,330 | $7,892 /yr | - | -$0 |
Charlotte | NC | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,435 /yr | - | -$0 |
Greensboro | NC | - Nat: $63,330 | $10,965 /yr | - | -$0 |
Raleigh | NC | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,303 /yr | - | -$0 |
Wilmington | NC | - Nat: $63,330 | $20,109 /yr | - | -$0 |
Grand Forks | ND | - Nat: $63,330 | $18,551 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fargo | ND | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,543 /yr | - | -$0 |
Akron | OH | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,946 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bowling Green | OH | - Nat: $63,330 | $24,022 /yr | - | -$0 |
Kent | OH | - Nat: $63,330 | $20,787 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbus | OH | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,339 /yr | - | -$0 |
Athens | OH | - Nat: $63,330 | $21,637 /yr | - | -$0 |
Toledo | OH | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,249 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stillwater | OK | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,447 /yr | - | -$0 |
Norman | OK | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,300 /yr | - | -$0 |
Portland State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Portland | OR | - Nat: $63,330 | $9,552 /yr | - | -$0 |
Indiana | PA | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,804 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bethlehem | PA | - Nat: $63,330 | $36,931 /yr | - | -$0 |
Philadelphia | PA | - Nat: $63,330 | $28,198 /yr | - | -$0 |
Providence | RI | - Nat: $63,330 | $25,184 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbia | SC | - Nat: $63,330 | $22,811 /yr | - | -$0 |
Brookings | SD | - Nat: $63,330 | $19,841 /yr | - | -$0 |
Johnson City | TN | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,983 /yr | - | -$0 |
Memphis | TN | - Nat: $63,330 | $12,397 /yr | - | -$0 |
Murfreesboro | TN | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,359 /yr | - | -$0 |
Knoxville | TN | - Nat: $63,330 | $18,976 /yr | - | -$0 |
Nashville | TN | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,846 /yr | - | -$0 |
Waco | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $41,104 /yr | - | -$0 |
East Texas A&M University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Commerce | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $11,841 /yr | - | -$0 |
University of Houston-Clear Lake ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Houston | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,563 /yr | - | -$0 |
Houston | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,276 /yr | - | -$0 |
Laredo | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $3,637 /yr | - | -$0 |
Denton | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,649 /yr | - | -$0 |
Our Lady of the Lake University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. San Antonio | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,442 /yr | - | -$0 |
Edinburg | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $4,831 /yr | - | -$0 |
Prairie View A & M University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Prairie View | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,570 /yr | - | -$0 |
Houston | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,370 /yr | - | -$0 |
The University of Texas at Arlington ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Arlington | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,951 /yr | - | -$0 |
Austin | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $19,857 /yr | - | -$0 |
Richardson | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $18,267 /yr | - | -$0 |
El Paso | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $9,403 /yr | - | -$0 |
Texas Southern University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Houston | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,590 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lubbock | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $19,070 /yr | - | -$0 |
Denton | TX | - Nat: $63,330 | $11,963 /yr | - | -$0 |
Provo | UT | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,564 /yr | - | -$0 |
Logan | UT | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,936 /yr | - | -$0 |
Salt Lake City | UT | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,200 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fairfax | VA | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,915 /yr | - | -$0 |
Norfolk | VA | - Nat: $63,330 | $14,638 /yr | - | -$0 |
Blacksburg | VA | - Nat: $63,330 | $24,953 /yr | - | -$0 |
Richmond | VA | - Nat: $63,330 | $23,433 /yr | - | -$0 |
Charlottesville | VA | - Nat: $63,330 | $21,565 /yr | - | -$0 |
Huntington | WV | - Nat: $63,330 | $7,502 /yr | - | -$0 |
Morgantown | WV | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,634 /yr | - | -$0 |
Madison | WI | - Nat: $63,330 | $17,354 /yr | - | -$0 |
Milwaukee | WI | - Nat: $63,330 | $15,014 /yr | - | -$0 |
San Juan | PR | - Nat: $63,330 | $9,175 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stanford | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,807 /yr | - | -$0 |
Waterbury | CT | - Nat: $63,330 | $10,875 /yr | - | -$0 |
Groton | CT | - Nat: $63,330 | $13,807 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stamford | CT | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,798 /yr | - | -$0 |
Merced | CA | - Nat: $63,330 | $11,983 /yr | - | -$0 |
Hartford | CT | - Nat: $63,330 | $16,403 /yr | - | -$0 |
San Marcos | TX | $70,116 Nat: $63,330 4yr Post-Grad | $16,805 /yr | $36,380 | -$53k |
Arizona State University Digital Immersion ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Scottsdale | AZ | $65,008 Nat: $63,330 4yr Post-Grad | - /yr | $40,642 | -$67k |
Birmingham | AL | $68,281 Nat: $63,330 4yr Post-Grad | $18,749 /yr | $34,166 | -$72k |
Tempe | AZ | $65,008 Nat: $63,330 4yr Post-Grad | $14,967 /yr | $40,642 | -$94k |
Sacramento | CA | $59,203 Nat: $63,330 4yr Post-Grad | $9,338 /yr | - | -$137k |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Colorado Springs | CO | $47,260 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $15,788 /yr | - | -$244k |
Oklahoma City | OK | $48,432 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $22,857 /yr | - | -$245k |
San Antonio | TX | $45,696 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $10,836 /yr | - | -$251k |
Huntsville | TX | $41,565 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $16,404 /yr | - | -$303k |
San Marcos | CA | $39,927 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $10,229 /yr | - | -$308k |
Fullerton | CA | $38,829 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $6,555 /yr | - | -$313k |
Chicago | IL | $41,565 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $30,902 /yr | - | -$329k |
Las Cruces | NM | $37,208 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $8,889 /yr | - | -$334k |
California State University-Dominguez Hills ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Carson | CA | $31,314 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $8,615 /yr | - | -$394k |
Kingsville | TX | $27,750 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $12,090 /yr | - | -$438k |
Queens | NY | $30,771 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $29,999 /yr | - | -$439k |
Statesboro | GA | $28,055 Nat: $63,330 2yr Post-Grad | $15,267 /yr | - | -$441k |
Analysis Notes:
- Lifetime Value Added: Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median bachelor's degree holder, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes.
- Avg Net Price: The average price paid by students who receive federal financial aid (grants/loans).Note: For graduate programs, the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition and net price.
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.