Sociology · University of Iowa
How much do University of Iowa Sociology graduates earn?
University of Iowa's bachelor's graduates in Sociology earned a median $54,464 four years after graduating, 3% above the $52,657 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). Graduates who borrowed took out a median $23,250 in federal loans at this college (about $246 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $24,750 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
- Median earnings, 4 years after:
- $54,464
- National median, same program:
- $52,657
- Federal debt borrowed at this college (median):
- $23,250
- Monthly payment, 10-year plan:
- $246
University of Iowa, bachelor's in Sociology. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20; total including other colleges attended $24,750. College Scorecard, 10 June 2026.
Quick answers
- What do Sociology graduates of University of Iowa earn?
- University of Iowa's bachelor's graduates in Sociology earned a median $54,464 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- How much federal debt do Sociology graduates of University of Iowa have?
- Graduates who borrowed took out a median $23,250 in federal loans at University of Iowa (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20); counting federal loans from every college they attended at the same degree level, their total was $24,750.
- How does University of Iowa compare with the national median for Sociology?
- $54,464 is 3% above the $52,657 national median for bachelor's programs in the same field (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- How does University of Iowa compare with other Sociology programs in the West North Central states?
- It is 10% above the $49,665 earned by graduates of the typical West North Central bachelor's program in the field (17 programs, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- Is a Sociology degree from University of Iowa worth it?
- Federal data cannot decide that for you, but it puts the figures side by side: University of Iowa's bachelor's graduates in Sociology earned a median $54,464 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23), and those who borrowed took out a median $23,250 in federal loans there, about $246 a month on a 10-year plan, roughly 5% of the median graduate's monthly earnings before tax (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20).
Sociology at University of Iowa, by credential
One credential level has federal figures. Federal program group: Sociology (CIP 45.11), which includes its related specialties.
| Credential | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings, 1 yr after | Earnings, 4 yrs after | vs national | Debt borrowed at this college | Total debt incl. other colleges | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 75 | — | $54,464 | +3% | $23,250 | $24,750 | $246/mo |
The one-year and four-year figures describe different graduating classes (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21 and 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23) in different dollars, so the gap between them is not one class's pay growth. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure because too few graduates were measured.
What the two debt figures mean
Federal debt borrowed at this college: the median of the federal loans (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS) that graduates who borrowed took out at this college.
Total federal debt, including other colleges attended: the same graduates' federal loans from every college they attended, counting only loans at the same level as this credential (undergraduate loans for an undergraduate credential, graduate loans for a graduate one).
Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN. Monthly payment is for the debt borrowed at this college. Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation (September 2025), "Cumulative loan debt".
Cite this data
- Statistic
- University of Iowa's bachelor's graduates in Sociology earned a median $54,464 four years after graduating, against a national median of $52,657 for the same program and credential.
- Data period
- Graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19 who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled; earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars (52 graduates measured).
- Source
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data (release of 10 June 2026)
- Page
- https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-iowa/programs/sociology
- Suggested citation
- CampusPin (2026). University of Iowa Sociology: graduate earnings and debt. Data: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study, 10 June 2026. https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-iowa/programs/sociology
Or paste these figures into your page as a small table (departments, admissions, counselors)
Plain HTML with no script and no tracking: each credential's figure with its period and source, and one link back to this page.
How does University of Iowa compare with Sociology programs in the West North Central states?
Iowa has fewer than 3 bachelor's programs in Sociology with a federal earnings figure, so the comparison is regional. Across the 17 such programs in the West North Central states (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD), the typical program's graduates earned $49,665; University of Iowa's $54,464 is 10% above that (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
The typical program is the median across every program in the region with at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort (U.S. Census Bureau division). One federal measure, not a ranking of program quality.
Questions about Sociology at University of Iowa
- How much do University of Iowa Sociology graduates earn?
- University of Iowa's bachelor's graduates in Sociology earned a median $54,464 four years after graduating, 3% above the $52,657 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). Graduates who borrowed took out a median $23,250 in federal loans at this college (about $246 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $24,750 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
- How much student debt do University of Iowa Sociology graduates have?
- University of Iowa's bachelor's graduates in Sociology who borrowed took out a median $23,250 in federal loans at University of Iowa, about $246 a month on a standard 10-year plan (graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20, College Scorecard). Counting federal loans from every college they attended at the same degree level, their total was a median $24,750; the difference is loans taken at earlier colleges, which matters most for transfer and RN-to-BSN students. Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN.
- How does University of Iowa's Sociology program compare with others in the West North Central states?
- Iowa has fewer than 3 bachelor's programs in Sociology with a federal earnings figure, so the comparison is regional. Across the 17 such programs in the West North Central states (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD), the typical program's graduates earned $49,665; University of Iowa's $54,464 is 10% above that (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
Keep going
- University of Iowa: cost, admissions and every program
- Sociology major guide: what it pays nationally
- Same degree, different paycheck: how much the college matters
- What does Sociology pay at other colleges?
Jobs Sociology graduates often go into
- Market research analysts and marketing specialists: pay in Iowa
- Social workers, all other: pay in Iowa
- Social and community service managers: pay in Iowa
- News analysts, reporters, and journalists: pay and outlook
From the Sociologymajor guide. Graduates spread across many jobs; these pay figures are for everyone in the job, not for this program's graduates.
Other programs at University of Iowa with graduate earnings
- Conservation Science
- Communications
- Journalism
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- English & Literature
- Library and Information Science
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Anthropology
- Criminology
- Economics
- Political Science
- Pharmacy
- Public Health
- Nursing
- Business Administration
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Hospitality Management
- Human Resource Management
- International Business
- Marketing
- Insurance
- History
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Earnings reflect who enrolls, where graduates live and the jobs they take, as well as the program itself. Download every program (CSV).
Data sources & methodology
Figures on this page come from the Department of Education's College Scorecard field-of-study file, matched to University of Iowa by its federal UNITID.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
Program-level median earnings one and four years after completing, and median federal loan debt at completion, by institution, 4-digit CIP field and credential level.
College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation
How the field-of-study cohorts are built, which graduates are counted, and how small cells are suppressed and perturbed for privacy.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (10 June 2026). University of Iowa Sociology: graduate earnings and debt. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-iowa/programs/sociology