What can you do with a Sociology degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?

First, some facts. Of the Sociology graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 16 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 63%, Sociology graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona have a slightly lower likelihood (-4%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 63%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 43% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Sociology graduate.

See the details:

View a random Sociology graduate from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and our analysis:


Relevance score: 26%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2010 from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Sociology. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Assistant Manager
Skechers
Jun 2010 - Jan 2012
The position of Assistant Manager at Skechers does not require sociological knowledge or skills as core qualifications, focusing instead on retail management and customer service.

Customer Service Representative
Intelligent Beauty Call Center
Mar 2012 - Jul 2013
The role of Customer Service Representative at Intelligent Beauty Call Center does not utilize any sociological concepts or skills on a daily basis, as it is primarily focused on customer interactions and support.

Customer Service Representative
Valley Vista Services, Inc.
Feb 2014 - May 2017
The Customer Service Representative position at Valley Vista Services, Inc. does not require any specific sociological expertise and is centered around general customer service tasks.

Client Services Manager
FCTI, Inc.
Jul 2017 - Present
The role of Client Services Manager at FCTI, Inc. may involve understanding social dynamics and client interactions, but it is not directly centered on sociological principles and thus only vaguely relates to the degree.

ABOUT

As a Client Service manager overseeing the Management team, I ensure seamless client interactions and maintain high satisfaction levels. I collaborate with various teams to develop effective procedures that optimize our operations. Additionally, I manage the company's branding efforts, ensuring our brand consistently reflects our value and mission in all communications.My role involves strategic planning, problem-solving, and fostering strong client relationships to drive business growth.

What jobs can you get with a Sociology degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the job outcomes for Sociology graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, it seems like there’s a diverse range of roles that people have landed in. Many graduates have drifted into customer service and administrative positions, like being a Customer Service Representative or an Administrative Assistant. In these roles, they might use some interpersonal skills they've developed, but they don’t heavily rely on the specific sociological knowledge they gained during their studies. For instance, jobs such as Assistant Manager or Client Services Manager often focus more on management and customer relations, which are important but not directly tied to sociology.

On the other hand, there are positions that show a stronger connection to the field, such as educators, social service providers, and roles in community program management. For example, graduates working as educators or in program coordinator roles apply their understanding of social dynamics and community needs directly in their work. This shows that while many of the more common jobs might not directly utilize sociology, there are definitely opportunities where a sociology background is quite relevant and beneficial. Overall, it looks like a lot of graduates find themselves in roles where they can apply some soft skills from their degree without necessarily diving deep into the core concepts of sociology day-to-day.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Sociology graduates (this is across all Sociology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State Polytechnic University-Pomona):

What kind of career trajectories do Sociology graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona with degrees in Sociology, it seems like there's a bit of a mixed bag. A lot of these graduates started off in positions that are not directly related to sociology, such as customer service or management roles in various industries. For example, some folks jumped into assistant manager roles or customer service positions right after graduation, which isn't all too uncommon when you're just starting out and looking to gain work experience. However, as time progressed, a number of these graduates seemed to find their footing in fields more aligned with their studies, like education, counseling, and even project management in socially relevant organizations.

Fast forward a few years, and you can see some interesting shifts. Many grads have moved into roles that leverage their sociology background, such as crisis intervention specialists, program coordinators, or educational roles. This shows that while the first job out might not always correlate directly with their major, over time, these graduates often find their way into more relevant and fulfilling careers. Those who started in less relevant roles are increasingly moving into positions that allow them to use their sociological knowledge and skills. So, while the early career paths may vary significantly, there's a noteworthy trend toward meaningful work related to sociology for many of these individuals within five to ten years post-graduation. All in all, it seems like a mix of practicality and passion drives these careers, with many finding their niche eventually.

How hard is a Sociology degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, or really anywhere, can be a bit of a mixed bag. It’s not the hardest degree out there, but it definitely requires some serious thought and engagement. You’ll be diving into topics like social behavior, cultural dynamics, and research methods, which can be super interesting if you’re into understanding how society works. Some of the courses might feel a bit challenging, especially with all the reading and writing involved, but it's also pretty rewarding once you start connecting the dots. Overall, it's manageable for most students who are willing to put in the effort and think critically about the world around them!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Sociology.

Do Sociology graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona tend to make good money?

Looking at these graduates from Cal Poly Pomona, it seems like they've had a pretty mixed bag in terms of making decent money. Some of the older grads, especially those moving into specialized roles like Mortgage Loan Officers and Client Services Managers, likely found decent salaries as their experience grew. However, others held various customer service and administrative positions that typically don't offer high pay. For the more recent grads, many are still building their careers, often starting in roles that pay a bit less while they gain experience. Overall, it looks like while some have definitely found a good path to higher earnings, others are still on that journey or working in jobs that might not pay all that well.

What buzzwords do Sociology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Sociology (this is across all Sociology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State Polytechnic University-Pomona). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Sociology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Sociology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Sociology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Hunter College 79 12
California State University, Long Beach 76 25
Boston College 76 12
California State University-San Bernardino 75 25
Grand Canyon University 74 17
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 72 12
Montclair State University 71 10
DePaul University 70 11
University of California, Davis 69 14
Illinois State University 69 17
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 69 15
California State University San Marcos 69 16
San Francisco State University 68 16
University of North Florida 68 11
Stony Brook University 68 12
California State University, Fullerton 67 22
University of California, Riverside 67 53
University of West Georgia 67 13
Brigham Young University 65 19
San Diego State University 65 12
University of California, Santa Cruz 65 23
University of Maryland College Park 65 14
University of Central Florida 64 22
University of Wisconsin-Madison 64 13
California State University, Northridge 64 24
UC Irvine 64 15
Colorado College 64 11
University of Colorado Boulder 63 17
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 63 16
University of Virginia 63 16
California State University-Northridge 63 16
City University of New York-Herbert H. Lehman College 63 12
California State University - East Bay 62 17
Norfolk State University 62 10
California State University-Los Angeles 61 12
Texas A&M University 60 37
University of California, Berkeley 60 33
Louisiana State University 60 14
The University of Texas at San Antonio 60 12
The University of Texas at Austin 59 23
University of California, Santa Barbara 58 23
California State University-Dominguez Hills 58 21
University of Florida 57 24
Florida International University 57 10
University of California, Los Angeles 57 48
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 57 10
Sonoma State University 57 16
University of Michigan 56 11
California State University-Sacramento 55 37
North Carolina State University 54 10
California State University-Long Beach 54 14
California State University, Chico 54 13
University of Arizona 53 15
University of Utah 53 14
University of Massachusetts Amherst 53 14
Queens College 53 22
University at Albany, SUNY 53 23
The Ohio State University 52 13
San Jose State University 52 23
Texas Tech University 52 10
Kennesaw State University 52 15
Florida State University 51 22
Georgia State University 51 30
Arizona State University 50 29
University of North Texas 50 22
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 50 11
California State University, Los Angeles 50 17
Indiana University Bloomington 49 11
Florida Atlantic University 49 19
University of Oregon 49 22
Brigham Young University - Idaho 48 11
James Madison University 47 11
University of Oklahoma 47 12
Western Washington University 46 16
UC Santa Barbara 46 40
Christopher Newport University 46 11
University of Washington 45 30
UCLA 43 11
Towson University 42 16
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 42 14
Ashford University 41 20
The University of Georgia 39 10