Sociology at College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
35
Optimistic
34
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,583/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 2.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #284 of 414 Sociology programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Sociology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $647K $633K $572K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.6x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 34 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$243,400
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$147,472
39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,449
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,340
87% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

College of the Holy Cross's Sociology graduates start at $36,583/yr — above the $34,392 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Sociology's typical career paths, with 42% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,449 represents roughly 9 months of the $36,583 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #284 of 414 Sociology programs, College of the Holy Cross falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $68,340 show a 87% jump from the $36,583 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About College of the Holy Cross

Admission to College of the Holy Cross is competitive, with 21% of applicants accepted, a smaller institution with 3,015 students in Worcester, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $147,472 — 39% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at College of the Holy Cross →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
Sociology teachers, postsecondary $82,540/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Sociology at Other Schools

Other Majors at College of the Holy Cross

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at College of the Holy Cross?
A score of 34/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Sociology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Sociology careers?
With 42% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $572,336 in decade earnings vs $647,043 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →