U.S. median for this major: $52,120.
College Scorecard field of study; 106 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 37% 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 $33,678. College Scorecard.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville 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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville'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 | $10,029 | $42,924 | 2.2 years |
| $30–48k | $12,162 | $52,053 | 2.7 years |
| $48–75k | $18,206 | $77,922 | 4.1 years |
| $75–110k | $23,627 | $101,124 | 5.3 years |
| $110k+ | $25,688 | $109,945 | 5.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (56% 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 ($53,635) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,117 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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Acceptance rate: 42% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 74% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $60,249
- Full cost breakdown · all 82 majors · overview
Related majors at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Psychology$49,003
- Psychology (Research)—
- Social Work$48,510
- Political Science$60,073
- Economics$67,902
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Sociology questions
How much do The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Sociology graduates earn?
Sociology graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn a median $53,635 four years after graduating and $35,723 one year after. The U.S. median for Sociology graduates across 458 colleges is $52,120.
How much debt do The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Sociology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Sociology graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is $20,013, about 37% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville a good school for Sociology in Tennessee?
On pay, Sociology graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn $53,635 four years out, $9,733 above the median for the same major across 10 Tennessee colleges ($43,902) and $1,515 above the U.S. median ($52,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville rank for Sociology in Tennessee?
Of 10 Tennessee colleges reporting Sociology graduate earnings, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville ranks 2nd. 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.
Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing The University of Tennessee-Knoxville 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: “The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Sociology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/majors/sociology (College Scorecard and BLS data).