WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-8% vs national median729 grads tracked

Sociology at South Dakota State University

Ranked 175th of 313 bachelor's programs in Sociology by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,264
middle 50%: $28,666 – $45,644
Median · 5 years out
$49,226
middle 50%: $39,796 – $60,967
Median · 10 years out
$58,338
middle 50%: $46,835 – $75,015

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Sociology (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of South Dakota State University's bachelor's program in Sociology earn a median $37,264 one year after graduating, rising to $58,338 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $53,227 for this field, ranking 175th of 313 reporting programs.

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
8.4 yrs
≈ $9,781 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
Virginia Wesleyan University
$49,308 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
$49,214 · 5 yrs out
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
$49,211 · 5 yrs out
East Carolina University
$49,193 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$49,141 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York College at Potsdam
$49,062 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$48,908 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at South Dakota State University

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,496 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$148,262 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$142,581 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$113,950 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$112,807 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$102,841 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,697 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$93,240 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out

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