What can you do with a Sociology degree from California State University, Northridge?

First, some facts. Of the Sociology graduates from California State University, Northridge 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 24 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 64%, Sociology graduates from California State University, Northridge have a slightly lower likelihood (-3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 64%
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, 37% 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 University, Northridge and our analysis:


Relevance score: 50%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2021 from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Bilingual Aide
Birmingham Community Charter High School
Mar 2022 - Present
The position as a Bilingual Aide may utilize some social awareness and communication skills acquired from a Sociology degree, but it does not directly require the core qualifications or specific sociological knowledge.

ABOUT

A Recent CSUN graduate in Pursuit of determining how to anchor myself through ending injustices and misinformation. I'm highly interested in spreading awareness, through the means of sociological perspectives and critical thinking. When I'm not in school, I engage in reading political/social issues articles, listen to educational/archival podcasts, exercising, and find new eateries on some occasions. If interested about finding more about my persona, you can reach me via message

What jobs can you get with a Sociology degree from California State University, Northridge?

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


From analyzing the LinkedIn profiles of Sociology graduates from California State University, Northridge, it seems like many of them have ventured into fields that touch on social dynamics but not necessarily in a direct way. A significant number of individuals found roles in educational settings, like academic advising or program supervision, where their sociological knowledge about education and community behavior can really shine. Other relevant positions include mental health counseling and roles in social services—where understanding social systems and human behavior are both crucial. Those who worked as counselors, therapists, or in case management definitely seem to utilize their sociology skills more directly, helping individuals and families navigate social issues.

However, there are quite a few cases where the jobs don't align closely with their sociology background at all. Many graduates are in customer service, sales, or administrative roles that might use general interpersonal skills but don't need a deep understanding of sociological principles. Roles like delivery associates, real estate agents, and management positions in hospitality were less focused on applying sociological concepts. Overall, while there are definitely strong connections between many of the jobs and the sociology field—especially in community-focused positions—there's also a notable trend of graduates landing in roles that don't utilize their specialized knowledge directly. So, it's kind of a mixed bag, but it's clear that those who steer towards working with communities, mental health, or education seem to find relevance in their degree much more than those in sales or tech-related jobs.

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 University, Northridge):

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

When you look at graduates from California State University, Northridge with a degree in Sociology, it seems like they have pretty diverse career paths. Right out of school, many are landing jobs in fields like education, community service, and even human resources. Some start off with roles that are quite relevant to their studies, like case managers, counselors, and program coordinators, which suggests they are leveraging their understanding of social behaviors and systems early on. However, there are also folks who seem to veer off into roles that aren’t directly related to sociology, such as sales or administrative positions, which might not fully utilize what they learned during their degree.

Fast forward five to ten years, and you'll notice a mixture of outcomes. Some graduates have climbed the ranks within social service organizations, taking on managerial roles or specialized positions like therapists and program managers. Others seem to have moved into business or hospitality sectors, which, while they might not directly align with sociology, still benefit from interpersonal skills learned during their studies. But there are also cases where individuals still appear to be figuring things out, with some recent graduates still actively seeking employment or taking on various temporary positions. Overall, while many sociology grads do find meaningful work in relevant fields, it's clear some take longer to establish a clear career trajectory that relates back to their major.

How hard is a Sociology degree from California State University, Northridge?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at California State University, Northridge is generally considered to be on the easier side compared to some other majors, but that doesn't mean it’s a walk in the park. You’ll dive into some interesting topics about society, culture, and human behavior, which can be pretty engaging. While the workload relies a lot on reading and writing papers, if you enjoy those subjects and are willing to put in some effort, you might find it manageable. Just be ready to participate in discussions and think critically about social issues, and you'll probably do just fine! Overall, it's a degree that balances a decent challenge with some fun, thought-provoking material.

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 University, Northridge tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these Sociology graduates from California State University, Northridge, it seems like some of them have found decent paying jobs, while others are still working their way up. For instance, those who took roles like General Manager or Academic Advisor seem to have secured positions that typically offer good salaries, especially in education and management. On the flip side, some of the more entry-level jobs or internships, especially in social services and mental health, might not pay as well initially, but they can lead to better opportunities down the line. Overall, it looks like there’s a mix—some are doing really well financially, while others are still in the building phase of their careers, which is totally normal at this stage!

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 University, Northridge). 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