Sociology Degree in Brownsville, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Sociology degree analysis for Brownsville, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$37K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$50K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11 yrs
in Brownsville
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
Sociology in Brownsville, TX Overview
Brownsville, Texas (pop. 186,738) has 7 colleges offering Sociology programs. The local cost of living index of 83 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $868/month. Although national enrollment in Sociology has been declining, graduates with skills in Research Methods and Data Analysis remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Brownsville is approximately $36,520.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$8,416/yr
Private Tuition
$32,593/yr
Room & Board
$12,079/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,908/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
46%
Sociology Salary in Brownsville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Brownsville's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Sociology salary: $44,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $75,000 senior level.Brownsville adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
Sociology ROI Calculator for Brownsville
Estimate your return on investment for a Sociology degree using local Brownsville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,416 | Private avg: $32,593
Brownsville avg aid: $12,908/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,980
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,470
vs HS diploma in Brownsville
ROI Payback Period
11 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Brownsville
$125,520
Lifetime earnings premium ($207,500) minus total education cost ($81,980)
Student Loan Payoff for Sociology in Brownsville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Brownsville for Sociology
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
public
$8,416/yr
$33,664 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Texas Southmost College
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Sociology in Brownsville
Brownsville offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Sociology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Brownsville Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Sociology Job Titles
Sociology in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$51K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$53K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$46K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$47K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$44K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$41K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$41K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$36K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Brownsville
International Relations
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$40K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$42K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$42K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$42K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$37K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology Degree in Brownsville — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Sociology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Brownsville.