Sociology bachelor's degree at University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · 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 close to similar programs.
$541 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
46.2% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−66% · 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−$98,020
$8,000Annual price−$130,020
$16,000Current college-wide context−$162,020
$24,000Annual price−$194,020
$32,000Annual price−$226,020
$40,000Annual price−$258,020
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+22%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$41,250 → $50,306Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort18Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median22Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-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.
48Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers22Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count29Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$53,198$17,116 above the preliminary benchmark
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$15,901
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$24,594
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$53,198
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$261/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.
$41,250Year 1
$53,198Year 4
$50,306Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
5.9% 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$4,433
Estimated loan payment$261
22borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$53,198 vs. $52,657
$541 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$128,080 median wageIA estimate · 3,600 jobs · 11-9199$89,800–$165,840 middle 50% of IA 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$81,910 median wageIA estimate · 140 jobs · 25-1067$65,270–$122,310 middle 50% of IA wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$83,920 median wageIA estimate · 150 jobs · 25-1069$61,220–$104,310 middle 50% of IA wages+1.6% projected U.S. growth · 1,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$40,940 median wageIA estimate · 140 jobs · 19-4061$33,000–$44,520 middle 50% of IA 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
Public Administration
about 23.2%02
Finance and Insurance
about 15.7%03
Health Care and Social Assistance
about 10.9%04
Educational Services
about 9.3%05
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 9.0%
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.