CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Merced, California

Is Sociology at University of California-Merced worth it?

High confidence High confidence: 100+ graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 6 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$43,142
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$54,209
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$12,898
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$49k (likely $49k – $64k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$14k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in CA
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
6 years (likely 4.7–8.3)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
−$95k (likely −$156k – −$45k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$96k (likely −$26k – $212k)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
68%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in
not reported / ≤ 20%
NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20

Change income, residency or loans Compare Sociology at other schools

🍎 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward teaching & helping people majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP Psychology
  • AP English Language and Composition
  • AP Statistics

IB Higher Level

  • Psychology HL
  • Language A HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at University of California-Merced

Sociology at other schools in California