ROI Major

Sociology at Voorhees University

SC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 45.11

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Sociology degree from Voorhees University earn a median salary of $39,329 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $41,312. The degree typically pays for itself in 36.1 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

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

$29,756

Typical Career

$39,329

Top Performers

$49,779

Estimated break-even: 36.1 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$262

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,277. Most students can comfortably afford about a $262 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in South Carolina buys what costs $0.95 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 18.5%
Health Care & Social Assistance 15.3%
Public Administration 14.0%

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

$41,312

Nominal: $39,329 in South Carolina (COL 95.2% of national avg) · 5% 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).

36.1 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

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 $21,848 $27,897 $36,696
5 Years After Graduation $29,756 $39,329 $49,779
10 Years After Graduation $32,687 $44,978 $60,342

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 $39,329 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SC, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.2% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $39,329 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520) = $41,312 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

The earnings trajectory for Sociology graduates from Voorhees University shows a gradual increase over time, with median earnings of $27,897 one year after graduation, rising to $39,329 after five years, and reaching $44,978 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median salary five years post-graduation is approximately $41,311.97, reflecting the cost of living in South Carolina, which has a cost-of-living index of 0.952 compared to the national average of 1.0. This suggests that while initial earnings may be modest, there is potential for growth in real terms over time.

Graduates typically enter industries such as Educational Services (18.5%), Health Care & Social Assistance (15.3%), and Public Administration (14.0%). The estimated break-even point for pursuing a degree in Sociology versus a high-school-only path is approximately 36.1 years, indicating a long-term return on investment. While the initial financial benefits may not be immediate, the diverse career opportunities and potential for increased earnings over time can make a Sociology degree a worthwhile pursuit for those interested in these 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 Voorhees 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.

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