U.S. median for this major: $52,120.
College Scorecard field of study; 53 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 48% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $35,015. College Scorecard.
Clemson University Sociology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Sociology nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Clemson University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $13,607 | $57,830 | 2.7 years |
| $30–48k | $14,109 | $59,963 | 2.8 years |
| $48–75k | $18,851 | $80,117 | 3.8 years |
| $75–110k | $24,833 | $105,540 | 5.0 years |
| $110k+ | $27,922 | $118,669 | 5.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (68% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Sociology graduates 4 years after graduating ($54,780) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $21,264 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Sociology at South Carolina colleges
Every South Carolina college we cover that reports Sociology graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson University | $54,780 | $26,125 | $22,253 | 87% |
| 2 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | $53,293 | $27,000 | $22,811 | 79% |
| 3 | University of South Carolina Aiken | $49,530 | $28,750 | $11,641 | 40% |
| 4 | College of Charleston | $48,709 | $25,000 | $18,960 | 66% |
| 5 | Winthrop University | $47,178 | $27,000 | $15,343 | 57% |
| 6 | Coastal Carolina University | $47,056 | $26,475 | $13,966 | 48% |
| 7 | Lander University | $44,287 | $30,622 | $15,363 | 50% |
| 8 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | $43,745 | $27,000 | $13,557 | 43% |
| 9 | Claflin University | $39,353 | $32,500 | $17,800 | 52% |
| 10 | Francis Marion University | $36,995 | $31,500 | $11,386 | 43% |
11 more South Carolina colleges offer Sociology but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Sociology graduates
Social Science Research Assistants
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Clemson University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Clemson University
- Acceptance rate: 38% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 87% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $71,513
- Full cost breakdown · all 70 majors · overview
Related majors at Clemson University
- Psychology$55,126
- Political Science$64,822
- Economics$79,468
- Criminology$50,133
Clemson University Sociology questions
How much do Clemson University Sociology graduates earn?
Sociology graduates of Clemson University earn a median $54,780 four years after graduating and $36,320 one year after. The U.S. median for Sociology graduates across 458 colleges is $52,120.
How much debt do Clemson University Sociology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Sociology graduates of Clemson University is $26,125, about 48% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Clemson University a good school for Sociology in South Carolina?
On pay, Sociology graduates of Clemson University earn $54,780 four years out, $7,663 above the median for the same major across 10 South Carolina colleges ($47,117) and $2,660 above the U.S. median ($52,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Clemson University rank for Sociology in South Carolina?
Of 10 South Carolina colleges reporting Sociology graduate earnings, Clemson University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Sociology graduates get?
A common career is social science research assistants, with a median wage of $74,060 in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC area and $61,990 nationally.
Is Clemson University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Clemson University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Clemson University Sociology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/clemson-university/majors/sociology (College Scorecard and BLS data).