Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $36,826 at Purdue University-Main Campus come in 7% above the national median of $34,392 for Sociology programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Sociology programs nationally.
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 8% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $19,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $36,826 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #73 of 414 nationally, this is a top-5% Sociology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $36,826 to $53,174 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.