Sociology at Indiana University - South Bend
IN · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 45.11
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Sociology degree from Indiana University - South Bend earn a median salary of $41,933 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $46,386. The degree typically pays for itself in 24.1 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$32,027
Typical Career
$41,933
Top Performers
$51,994
Estimated break-even: 24.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$280
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,494. Most students can comfortably afford about a $280 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Indiana buys what costs $0.90 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Manufacturing.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$46,386
Nominal: $41,933 in Indiana (COL 90.4% of national avg) · 10.6% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $25,555 | $33,058 | $41,695 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $32,027 | $41,933 | $51,994 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $34,107 | $47,878 | $65,194 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $41,933 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IN, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.4% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $41,933 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9040)
= $46,386 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that Sociology graduates enter include Health Care & Social Assistance (26.8%), Educational Services (19.5%), and Manufacturing (10.1%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 24.1 years, indicating a long-term return on investment. While the initial earnings may not be exceptionally high, the degree offers a pathway into stable sectors with potential for growth, making it a viable option for those interested in social sciences.
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Other Degrees at Indiana University - South Bend
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.