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Sociology at Tennessee State University

Nashville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
40
Optimistic
39
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,884/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI 13.2x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #206 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 $448K $452K $432K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.1x 13.2x 12.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.0x 5.1x 4.8x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 39 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,272
Out-of-state: $89,136 (5.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$40,104
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$29,858
10.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Tennessee State University's Sociology program produces graduates earning $34,884/yr — within striking distance of the $34,392 national average for this field.

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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $29,858 represents roughly 10 months of the $34,884 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #206 of 414 Sociology programs, Tennessee State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Tennessee State University

A 93% acceptance rate means Tennessee State University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 6,498 students in Nashville, TN. 52% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Tennessee State University →

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 Tennessee State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,331) Mechanical Engineering ($58,828) Accounting and Related Services ($53,620) Computer Science ($50,628) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($48,894) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($40,077) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($38,134) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($37,716)

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at Tennessee State University?
A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Sociology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Sociology careers?
With 42% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $431,535 in decade earnings vs $448,365 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →