Sociology bachelor's degree programs in Illinois

Compare 17 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

17Programs reporting earnings

$53,747Median year-4 earnings

$25,817Median federal debt

17Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in Illinois

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Northwestern UniversityEvanston · $14,567 federal debt$75,267 2Loyola University ChicagoChicago · $22,250 federal debt$61,429 3Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb · $27,000 federal debt$58,023 4Augustana CollegeRock Island · $26,497 federal debt$57,943 5North Central CollegeNaperville · $27,000 federal debt$56,281 6University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign · $21,154 federal debt$55,393 7Dominican UniversityRiver Forest · $27,000 federal debt$54,686 8University of Illinois ChicagoChicago · $19,315 federal debt$53,962 9Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago · $17,457 federal debt$53,747 10Elmhurst UniversityElmhurst · $24,505 federal debt$53,075

CAREER CONTEXT IN IL

What related occupations pay in Illinois

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

19-3041Sociologists

State median wage: $140,770
Middle 50% wage range: $104,580–$174,320
State employment: Not reported
Projected growth: +3.8%
Annual openings: 200

10th–90th percentile: $76,320–$229,480

11-9199Managers, All Other

State median wage: $140,240
Middle 50% wage range: $107,690–$180,860
State employment: 31,680
Projected growth: +4.9%
Annual openings: 100,900

10th–90th percentile: $82,230–$235,260

25-1067Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

State median wage: $82,610
Middle 50% wage range: $63,770–$106,490
State employment: 440
Projected growth: +2.2%
Annual openings: 1,000

10th–90th percentile: $52,260–$131,440

19-4061Social Science Research Assistants

State median wage: $64,890
Middle 50% wage range: $47,720–$74,700
State employment: 250
Projected growth: +5.0%
Annual openings: 4,900

10th–90th percentile: $37,460–$116,530

25-1069Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other

State median wage: $63,470
Middle 50% wage range: $53,540–$80,280
State employment: 1,700
Projected growth: +1.6%
Annual openings: 1,300

10th–90th percentile: $31,200–$106,340

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Illinois; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#	College	City	Median year-4 earnings	Median federal debt
1	Northwestern University	Evanston	$75,267	$14,567
2	Loyola University Chicago	Chicago	$61,429	$22,250
3	Northern Illinois University	Dekalb	$58,023	$27,000
4	Augustana College	Rock Island	$57,943	$26,497
5	North Central College	Naperville	$56,281	$27,000
6	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Champaign	$55,393	$21,154
7	Dominican University	River Forest	$54,686	$27,000
8	University of Illinois Chicago	Chicago	$53,962	$19,315
9	Northeastern Illinois University	Chicago	$53,747	$17,457
10	Elmhurst University	Elmhurst	$53,075	$24,505
11	DePaul University	Chicago	$52,791	$24,500
12	McKendree University	Lebanon	$52,428	$27,000
13	Chicago State University	Chicago	$51,485	$38,087
14	Southern Illinois University Edwardsville	Edwardsville	$51,465	$26,500
15	Illinois State University	Normal	$51,000	$25,000
16	Western Illinois University	Macomb	$50,080	$30,478
17	Eastern Illinois University	Charleston	$48,925	$25,817

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Sociology in Illinois

What do Sociology bachelor's degree graduates earn in Illinois?

Across 17 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $53,747 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $25,817 among the 17 programs reporting federal debt.

Which Illinois colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Northwestern University has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.