Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Sociology bachelor's degree outcomes at Appalachian State University

Boone, NC · Public · Federal field 4511

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$5,477 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
43.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−91% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
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.

What stays fixed$47,180 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+42%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$31,559$44,662
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
29Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
42Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
54Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$27,014Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
3Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 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.

161Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
24Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
82Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
103Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,203Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$47,180$14,977 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 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.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$16,836

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$20,606

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$47,180

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$218/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$16,836Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$23,169Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE90.1%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE74.5%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$31,559Year 1
$47,180Year 4
$44,662Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.5% 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$3,932
Estimated loan payment$218
54borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$47,180 vs. $52,657

$5,477 below 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$141,160 median wageNC estimate · 21,830 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSociologists$126,760 median wageNC estimate · 170 jobs · 19-3041+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSociology Teachers, Postsecondary$76,430 median wageNC estimate · 550 jobs · 25-1067+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$72,990 median wageU.S. estimate · 410 jobs · 25-1069+1.6% projected U.S. growth · 1.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$63,710 median wageNC estimate · 2,930 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
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.

Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

$4,621 higher earnings · $5,681 less debt · $5,181 lower annual net price

Earnings
$51,801
Debt
$14,925
Annual net price
$11,655
View outcomes →
Charlotte, NC

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

$2,585 higher earnings · $1,401 lower annual net price

Earnings
$49,765
Debt
$26,798
Annual net price
$15,435
View outcomes →
Durham, NC

Duke University

$14,245 higher earnings

Earnings
$61,425
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$29,612
View outcomes →
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University

$13,455 higher earnings

Earnings
$60,635
Debt
$23,000
Annual net price
$28,719
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

42 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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