Sociology graduates from Ball State University earn $38,857 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $19,448.
Sociology at Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Sociology at Ball State University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Ball State University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Sociology at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 27 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Ball State University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $38,857 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $47,762 across all institutions offering Sociology, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Ball State University, the mean median-earnings figure is $59,621, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Sociology graduates at Ball State University is $19,448, which translates to roughly $162 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Sociology at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $101,536 | $27,000 |
| William & Mary | $87,655 | $14,000 |
| Vanderbilt University | $83,649 | — |
| Dartmouth College | $81,722 | $19,250 |
| George Washington University | $78,857 | — |
| Barnard College | $77,821 | $14,899 |
| New York University | $77,650 | $18,875 |
| Northwestern University | $75,267 | $13,622 |
| Cornell University | $73,200 | $11,650 |
| University of Pennsylvania | $72,217 | — |
Other Programs at Ball State University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General | $120,992 | $23,417 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $117,260 | $33,250 |
| Information Science/Studies | $111,444 | $19,632 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $98,442 | $53,575 |
| Construction Management | $90,239 | $25,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $80,463 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $79,669 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $79,620 | $23,512 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $78,566 | $22,665 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $78,401 | $24,250 |
Other Schools with Sociology
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.