Bachelor's-7% vs national median1,196 grads tracked
Sociology at Illinois State University
Ranked 167th of 313 bachelor's programs in Sociology by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$34,181
middle 50%: $25,758 – $43,571
Median · 5 years out
$49,612
middle 50%: $38,035 – $64,271
Median · 10 years out
$62,638
middle 50%: $45,895 – $81,671
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Sociology (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Sociology graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of $34k in year one. Salaries reach $63k by the tenth year.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
8.5 yrs
≈ $10,104 total interest
Same major at other universities
Eastern Illinois University
$49,989 · 5 yrs out
Wheaton College
$49,979 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$49,825 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$49,780 · 5 yrs out
Portland State University
$49,769 · 5 yrs out
College of Charleston
$49,673 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$49,539 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$49,530 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$49,489 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$49,449 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$49,369 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Illinois State University
Education (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$94,916 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$93,908 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$92,435 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$91,685 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$91,592 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$89,527 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$88,197 · 5 yrs out
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctorate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out