Best Sociology Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
14
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$221,582
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$13,115
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Santa Rosa Junior College
Grad rate: 32.2% |
-$15,378 | $42,596 | $13,649 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Moorpark College
Grad rate: 40.2% |
-$74,530 | $39,242 | $9,685 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Los Angeles Valley College
Grad rate: 36.0% |
-$128,550 | $37,435 | $18,625 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Cerritos College
Grad rate: 29.1% |
-$146,238 | $35,529 | $8,409 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Rio Hondo College
Grad rate: 26.0% |
-$194,556 | $34,203 | $19,308 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Oxnard College
Grad rate: 32.4% |
-$210,414 | $32,411 | $9,317 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Ventura College
Grad rate: 40.8% |
-$218,064 | $32,073 | $9,762 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
San Diego Mesa College
Grad rate: 33.8% |
-$230,648 | $31,764 | $12,964 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Cypress College
Grad rate: 34.4% |
-$246,464 | $31,252 | $15,752 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Santa Ana College
Grad rate: 29.2% |
-$303,416 | $28,014 | $11,848 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
San Diego City College
Grad rate: 23.9% |
-$310,470 | $27,802 | $13,255 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Crafton Hills College
Grad rate: 35.2% |
-$312,068 | $28,235 | $18,384 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Citrus College
Grad rate: 42.8% |
-$352,384 | $25,622 | $12,412 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
College of the Canyons
Grad rate: 43.4% |
-$358,978 | $25,666 | $10,243 | $8,750 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Sociology Degrees by State
Browse Sociology programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.