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Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,621/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

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

ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #24 of 414 Sociology programs Top 10%

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	$577K	$570K	$523K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.4x	12.2x	11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.4x	3.3x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	51	48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,712

Out-of-state: $171,112 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$78,712

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$60,618

53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Texas at Austin's Sociology graduates start at $39,621/yr — above the $34,392 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.2x 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,621 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #24 of 414 programs, The University of Texas at Austin's Sociology program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $60,618 show a 53% jump from the $39,621 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The University of Texas at Austin

Admission to The University of Texas at Austin is competitive, with 29% of applicants accepted, with 42,100 students enrolled in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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

Other Majors at The University of Texas at Austin

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin?

A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Sociology field.

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 $522,852 in decade earnings vs $577,222 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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