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Sociology at University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,308/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

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

ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #70 of 414 Sociology programs Top 25%

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	$529K	$526K	$489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.2x	14.1x	13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.4x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	47	44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,260

Out-of-state: $119,348 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$52,688

-41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,516

4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,418

44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $36,308 per year, Sociology graduates from University of Utah earn slightly above the $34,392 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.1x 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.

The median debt load of $14,516 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #70 of 414 nationally, this is a top-5% Sociology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $36,308 to $52,418 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Utah

With 87% of applicants admitted, University of Utah prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 26,041 students in Salt Lake City, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Utah →

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 University of Utah

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 University of Utah?

A score of 47/100 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 $488,502 in decade earnings vs $528,749 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Utah's Sociology program stand out?

Ranked #70 of 414 programs nationally, University of Utah lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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