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Sociology at Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,675/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 1.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #256 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 $480K $481K $454K
Earnings Multiple 1.9x 1.9x 1.8x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$256,568
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$118,248
54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,675 at Mount Holyoke College come in 18% above the national median of $34,392 for Sociology programs.

An earnings multiple of 1.9x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 42% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,500 debt-to-$40,675 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #256 out of 414 programs, Mount Holyoke College's financial outcomes for Sociology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Mount Holyoke College

Mount Holyoke College accepts 38% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, with a smaller student body of 2,198 in South Hadley, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $118,248 — 54% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Mount Holyoke College →

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

Compare this program → View all 414 schools offering Sociology →

Sociology at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($64,377) Columbia University in the City of New York ($58,541) Santa Clara University ($53,612) Colgate University ($51,788) Trinity College ($50,077) King's College ($48,529) Barnard College ($48,215) Boston College ($48,091)

Other Majors at Mount Holyoke College

Computer Science ($71,672) Political Science and Government ($48,690) Biology, General ($39,270) Research and Experimental Psychology ($32,439) International Relations and National Security Studies ($26,306) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($26,013) History ($23,337) Social Sciences, Other ($22,829)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Sociology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mount Holyoke College's Sociology program score?
This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Sociology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Sociology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Sociology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Sociology at Mount Holyoke College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $256,568, but the average net cost is $118,248 — a 54% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →