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Sociology at SUNY Old Westbury

Old Westbury, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,826/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)

ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #135 of 414 Sociology programs Top 50%

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	$468K	$470K	$445K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.0x	14.0x	13.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.4x	6.4x	6.1x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	44	43	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$33,516

Out-of-state: $73,156 (6.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$39,600

-18% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,750

5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$43,184

14% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $37,826 per year, Sociology graduates from SUNY Old Westbury earn slightly above the $34,392 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 14.0x 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 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $16,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #135 out of 414 programs, SUNY Old Westbury's Sociology offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $37,826 to $43,184 over five years (14% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About SUNY Old Westbury

With 85% of applicants admitted, SUNY Old Westbury prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 3,945 in Old Westbury, NY. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY Old Westbury →

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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 SUNY Old Westbury's Sociology program score?

This program scores 43/100 — 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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →