U.S. median for this major: $52,120.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 50% 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 $27,042. College Scorecard.
ETSU 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 ETSU'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 | $12,433 | $54,457 | more than 20 years |
| $30–48k | $14,289 | $62,586 | more than 20 years |
| $48–75k | $16,400 | $71,832 | more than 20 years |
| $75–110k | $20,588 | $90,175 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $21,193 | $92,825 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (34% 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 ($36,966) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $2,448 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 Tennessee colleges
Every Tennessee 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 | Vanderbilt University | $83,649 | — | $15,846 | 94% |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $53,635 | $20,013 | $18,976 | 74% |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University | $48,276 | $23,766 | $13,359 | 54% |
| 4 | Tennessee State University | $47,853 | $37,500 | $15,796 | 34% |
| 5 | Lee University | $44,193 | $25,245 | $18,878 | 63% |
| 6 | Austin Peay State University | $43,612 | $27,375 | $9,735 | 40% |
| 7 | University of Memphis | $43,595 | $29,250 | $12,397 | 51% |
| 8 | Tennessee Technological University | $42,830 | $16,057 | $14,246 | 58% |
| 9 | East Tennessee State University | $36,966 | $18,352 | $15,983 | 53% |
| 10 | Lane College | $34,242 | $40,472 | $10,904 | 18% |
12 more Tennessee 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 ETSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ETSU
- Acceptance rate: 86% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 53% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $44,859
- Full cost breakdown · all 51 majors · overview
Related majors at ETSU
- Psychology$42,358
- Social Work$43,855
- Political Science$48,452
- Economics—
ETSU Sociology questions
How much do ETSU Sociology graduates earn?
Sociology graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median $36,966 four years after graduating and $24,468 one year after. The U.S. median for Sociology graduates across 458 colleges is $52,120.
How much debt do ETSU Sociology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Sociology graduates of East Tennessee State University is $18,352, about 50% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is ETSU a good school for Sociology in Tennessee?
On pay, Sociology graduates of East Tennessee State University earn $36,966 four years out, $6,936 below the median for the same major across 10 Tennessee colleges ($43,902) and $15,154 below the U.S. median ($52,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does ETSU rank for Sociology in Tennessee?
Of 10 Tennessee colleges reporting Sociology graduate earnings, East Tennessee State University ranks 9th. The highest is Vanderbilt University at $83,649.
What jobs do Sociology graduates get?
A common career is social science research assistants, with a median wage of $46,410 in Tennessee and $61,990 nationally.
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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: “East Tennessee State University Sociology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/east-tennessee-state-university/majors/sociology (College Scorecard and BLS data).