Sociology at Norfolk State University
VA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 45.11
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Sociology degree from Norfolk State University earn a median salary of $46,924 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $45,780. The degree typically pays for itself in 15 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
$35,783
Typical Career
$46,924
Top Performers
$61,181
Estimated break-even: 15 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$313
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,910. Most students can comfortably afford about a $313 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.
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
$45,780
Nominal: $46,924 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% lower 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 | $24,704 | $32,794 | $43,722 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $35,783 | $46,924 | $61,181 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $42,135 | $55,393 | $73,942 |
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 $46,924 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $46,924 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250)
= $45,780 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for Sociology graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (25.6%), Educational Services (20.1%), and Public Administration (9.0%). This distribution suggests that graduates are well-positioned to enter sectors that are not only stable but also essential to community well-being. The estimated break-even point compared to a high school-only path is approximately 15 years, indicating that while the return on investment may take time, the long-term benefits of a Sociology degree can lead to rewarding career opportunities in impactful fields.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Sociology degree at Norfolk State 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.