Program Analysis
At $42,653 per year, Sociology graduates from Occidental College earn slightly above the $34,392 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
An earnings multiple of 2.3x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $21,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #248 out of 414 programs, Occidental College's financial outcomes for Sociology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,653 to $62,892 shows 47% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.