Program Analysis
At $40,602 per year, Sociology graduates from Iowa State University earn slightly above the $34,392 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The 13.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 42% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $19,876 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #17 out of 414 programs, Iowa State University's Sociology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,602 to $57,753 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.