Sociology bachelor's degree at University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.
$5,369 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
30.7% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−54% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$49,740
$8,000Annual price−$81,740
$16,000Annual price−$113,740
$24,000Annual price−$145,740
$25,000Current college-wide context−$149,740
$32,000Annual price−$177,740
$40,000Annual price−$209,740
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+57%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$37,958 → $59,67067Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort50Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort96Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median90Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$46,478Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
311Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment72Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers130Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count140Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
4.4%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers86Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,174Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$58,026$18,852 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 38 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$25,346
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$17,819
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$58,026
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$189/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$37,958Year 1
$58,026Year 4
$59,670Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
3.9% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$4,836
Estimated loan payment$189
90borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$58,026 vs. $52,657
$5,369 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Managers, All Other$171,140 median wageCO estimate · 14,060 jobs · 11-9199$135,790–$215,440 middle 50% of CO wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSociologists$106,030 median wageU.S. estimate · 2,260 jobs · 19-3041+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 200 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSociology Teachers, Postsecondary$78,630 median wageCO estimate · 220 jobs · 25-1067$58,860–$101,590 middle 50% of CO wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$72,990 median wageU.S. estimate · 16,580 jobs · 25-1069+1.6% projected U.S. growth · 1,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$50,430 median wageCO estimate · 100 jobs · 19-4061$50,180–$51,160 middle 50% of CO wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
01
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 19.9%02
Finance and Insurance
about 11.1%03
Educational Services
about 9.5%04
Health Care and Social Assistance
about 8.0%05
Public Administration
about 7.6%
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.