Sociology at Lincoln University
MO · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 45.11
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Sociology degree from Lincoln University earn a median salary of $43,047 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $48,259. The degree typically pays for itself in 30.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$36,851
Typical Career
$43,047
Top Performers
$66,382
Estimated break-even: 30.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$287
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,587. Most students can comfortably afford about a $287 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Missouri buys what costs $0.89 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Public Administration, Health Care & Social Assistance.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$48,259
Nominal: $43,047 in Missouri (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% 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 | $24,002 | $31,252 | $48,315 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $36,851 | $43,047 | $66,382 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $37,763 | $45,300 | $59,476 |
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 $43,047 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MO, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $43,047 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $48,259 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries where Sociology graduates find employment include Educational Services (18.0%), Public Administration (17.3%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (16.4%). Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 30.8 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for a Sociology degree may be considered moderate. While the long-term earnings potential exists, students should weigh their career aspirations against the time required to recoup educational expenses.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Sociology degree at Lincoln University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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.