Sociology Degree in Dayton, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Sociology degree analysis for Dayton, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.6 yrs
in Dayton
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Sociology in Dayton, OH Overview
Dayton, Ohio (pop. 137,644) has 9 colleges offering Sociology programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $865/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 Dayton is approximately $45,760.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$9,740/yr
Private Tuition
$46,490/yr
Room & Board
$12,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,990/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
50%
Sociology Salary in Dayton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Dayton's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Sociology salary: $44,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $75,000 senior level.Dayton adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Sociology ROI Calculator for Dayton
Estimate your return on investment for a Sociology degree using local Dayton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,740 | Private avg: $46,490
Dayton avg aid: $7,990/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,516
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,360
vs HS diploma in Dayton
ROI Payback Period
9.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Dayton
$170,484
Lifetime earnings premium ($260,000) minus total education cost ($89,516)
Student Loan Payoff for Sociology in Dayton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Dayton for Sociology
University of Dayton
private
$46,490/yr
$185,960 total
Wright State University
public
$9,740/yr
$38,960 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sinclair Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Sociology in Dayton
Dayton offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Sociology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Dayton Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Sociology Job Titles
Sociology in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$45K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$42K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$45K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$48K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$46K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Parma, OH
$40K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$37K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$37K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Dayton
International Relations
$52K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$50K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$52K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$52K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$52K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$46K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$52K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology Degree in Dayton — 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 Dayton.