U.S. median for this major: $52,120.
College Scorecard field of study; 104 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 $28,476. College Scorecard.
William Paterson University of New Jersey 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 William Paterson University of New Jersey'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 | $16,171 | $72,284 | 4.4 years |
| $30–48k | $18,287 | $81,743 | 4.9 years |
| $48–75k | $18,505 | $82,717 | 5.0 years |
| $75–110k | $22,862 | $102,193 | 6.2 years |
| $110k+ | $24,917 | $111,379 | 6.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (29% 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 ($53,253) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NJ (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,592 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 New Jersey colleges
Every New Jersey 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 | The College of New Jersey | $68,260 | $24,208 | $27,646 | 86% |
| 2 | Drew University | $60,261 | $26,750 | $24,280 | 70% |
| 3 | Rider University | $56,736 | $27,000 | $24,792 | 61% |
| 4 | Rutgers University-Camden | $55,197 | $24,405 | $18,745 | 67% |
| 5 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $55,197 | $24,405 | $24,406 | 84% |
| 6 | Rutgers University-Newark | $55,197 | $24,405 | $19,703 | 64% |
| 7 | Ramapo College of New Jersey | $55,161 | $20,750 | $18,173 | 70% |
| 8 | William Paterson University of New Jersey | $53,253 | $25,531 | $18,745 | 44% |
| 9 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | $52,053 | $25,000 | $28,014 | 38% |
| 10 | Montclair State University | $52,053 | $25,000 | $15,566 | 65% |
| 11 | Kean University | $51,122 | $27,000 | $12,447 | 47% |
| 12 | Stockton University | $47,201 | $26,000 | $20,670 | 69% |
| 13 | Rowan University | $46,130 | $25,000 | $22,408 | 67% |
| 14 | Centenary University | $46,031 | $27,000 | $20,503 | 56% |
| 15 | New Jersey City University | $44,151 | $25,781 | $16,053 | 34% |
8 more New Jersey 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 William Paterson University of New Jersey, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About William Paterson University of New Jersey
- Acceptance rate: 90% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 44% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $57,780
- Full cost breakdown · all 45 majors · overview
Related majors at William Paterson University of New Jersey
- Psychology$48,985
- Political Science$48,101
- Economics$70,705
- Urban Studies / Affairs—
William Paterson University of New Jersey Sociology questions
How much do William Paterson University of New Jersey Sociology graduates earn?
Sociology graduates of William Paterson University of New Jersey earn a median $53,253 four years after graduating and $35,528 one year after. The U.S. median for Sociology graduates across 458 colleges is $52,120.
How much debt do William Paterson University of New Jersey Sociology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Sociology graduates of William Paterson University of New Jersey is $25,531, about 48% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is William Paterson University of New Jersey a good school for Sociology in New Jersey?
On pay, Sociology graduates of William Paterson University of New Jersey earn $53,253 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 15 New Jersey colleges ($53,253) and $1,133 above the U.S. median ($52,120). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does William Paterson University of New Jersey rank for Sociology in New Jersey?
Of 15 New Jersey colleges reporting Sociology graduate earnings, William Paterson University of New Jersey ranks 8th. The highest is The College of New Jersey at $68,260.
What jobs do Sociology graduates get?
A common career is social science research assistants, with a median wage of $65,330 in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area 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: “William Paterson University of New Jersey Sociology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/william-paterson-university-of-new-jersey/majors/sociology (College Scorecard and BLS data).