Bachelor's-9% vs national median735 grads tracked
Sociology at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Ranked 195th of 313 bachelor's programs in Sociology by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$31,746
middle 50%: $24,209 – $42,290
Median · 5 years out
$48,447
middle 50%: $37,896 – $61,076
Median · 10 years out
$56,723
middle 50%: $43,497 – $74,254
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 majors at this institution see a first-year median salary of $32k. Earnings grow to $48k after five years and $57k after a decade.
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
8.9 yrs
≈ $10,717 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Akron (The)
$48,581 · 5 yrs out
Adams State University
$48,579 · 5 yrs out
Bridgewater College
$48,565 · 5 yrs out
Langston University
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
$48,417 · 5 yrs out
Winthrop University
$48,387 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$48,387 · 5 yrs out
Chicago State University
$48,258 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Harrisburg
$48,258 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Oklahoma
$48,182 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$176,841 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$168,157 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,126 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$150,876 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$129,928 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$122,810 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,242 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$114,563 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$102,325 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$100,689 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,245 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$99,491 · 5 yrs out