What can you do with a Sociology degree from University at Albany, SUNY?

First, some facts. Of the Sociology graduates from University at Albany, SUNY 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 23 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 53%, Sociology graduates from University at Albany, SUNY have a much lower likelihood (-14%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 53%
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, 39% 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 University at Albany, SUNY and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2013 from University at Albany, SUNY with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Occupational Therapist
Symbria
Oct 2016 - Sep 2018
As an Occupational Therapist, the role directly applies knowledge and skills related to sociology, particularly in understanding human behavior and social interactions, making it highly relevant.

Occupational Therapist
Sunny Days
Mar 2019 - Present
The position of Occupational Therapist at Sunny Days also utilizes the sociological knowledge of human development and the social context of individual behavior on a daily basis, confirming its relevance to the degree.

Occupational Therapist
Theradynamics
Sep 2018 - Present
Similarly, as an Occupational Therapist at Theradynamics, the daily application of sociological principles to support client rehabilitation highlights the strong relevance of this role to the Bachelor's degree in Sociology.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Masters Degree
Salus University
2014 - 2016
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Sociology degree from University at Albany, SUNY?

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


From the analysis of LinkedIn profiles of graduates with a Sociology degree from the University at Albany, SUNY, we can see some clear trends in the types of jobs they've landed. A significant portion of these individuals have gone into roles that involve mental health counseling or social work, which are deeply rooted in sociological principles. Positions like Mental Health Counselor, Social Worker, and various case management roles highlight a strong connection to the understanding of societal dynamics and the impact of community support. This suggests that the degree has been particularly useful for those wanting to work directly with people in ways that require empathy, understanding, and knowledge of social systems.

However, many graduates also ventured into roles less connected to sociology, such as sales, administrative positions, or retail jobs. These roles often focus on tasks unrelated to sociological theory or research, suggesting that not every job aligns closely with the skills and knowledge gained from their degree. Some positions may tangentially benefit from a sociology background—like understanding customer behavior—but they primarily emphasize different skill sets. Overall, while many alumni have successfully applied their sociology knowledge in fields that demand it, there is a notable number who ended up in careers where their degree isn’t as relevant, highlighting the diverse paths that sociology graduates can take.

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 University at Albany, SUNY):

What kind of career trajectories do Sociology graduates from University at Albany, SUNY have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

It looks like graduates from the University at Albany, SUNY with a degree in Sociology follow pretty diverse career paths after graduation. For many, their first jobs tend to be in support roles, like administrative and entry-level positions, or even sales. A number of grads started their careers in roles that aren't directly related to sociology, such as front desk positions or as customer service reps, which might not seem directly relevant to what they studied. Over time, though, some of these individuals transitioned into roles that align more closely with sociology, like mental health counseling or social work, which allows them to utilize their understanding of social behavior and human interactions.

Five to ten years later, many graduates are continuing in fields that relate more closely to sociology, taking on positions in social services, mental health, and education, or even jumping into roles like diversity and inclusion specialists. Some have found steady careers in administration and support roles, which might not be directly linked to their sociology background but still involve skills they honed during their studies. Overall, while some graduates might initially take jobs that feel unrelated to their degree, many seem to find their way back to fields where their sociology expertise is more applicable as they gain experience and refine their career focus.

How hard is a Sociology degree from University at Albany, SUNY?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University at Albany, SUNY, is generally considered to be on the easier side compared to some other majors, but it still has its challenges. Sociology involves understanding social behavior, patterns, and theories, which means you'll be doing a fair bit of reading, writing papers, and sometimes diving into research. The coursework typically includes a mix of lectures, discussions, and group projects, so you’ll be engaged with your classmates, which can make it more enjoyable. As long as you keep up with the reading and participate in class, you should be able to handle the workload. Overall, it’s a degree that many students find manageable, especially if you have an interest in social issues and enjoy exploring different perspectives.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Sociology.

Do Sociology graduates from University at Albany, SUNY tend to make good money?

Looking at the job histories of these sociology grads from the University at Albany, SUNY, it’s a mixed bag in terms of making decent money. Some of them, especially those who went into fields like Occupational Therapy or Intelligence Analysis, likely pulled in some good salaries, while others, particularly those in social work or entry-level positions, might be earning closer to the lower end of the pay scale. The more traditional, corporate roles, like insurance or financial services, generally are associated with better pay, which makes sense for those who went that route. Overall, while some might be financially thriving, others may be struggling a bit more, proving once again that job satisfaction and pay can really depend on the specific path you take after college.

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 University at Albany, SUNY). 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