What can you do with a Sociology degree from University of California, Santa Barbara?

First, some facts. Of the Sociology graduates from University of California, Santa Barbara 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? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 58%, Sociology graduates from University of California, Santa Barbara have a lower likelihood (-9%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

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

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Also, after graduating, only 34% 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 a Bachelors degree is enough for most Sociology graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Sociology degree from University of California, Santa Barbara?
• What do Sociology graduates from University of California, Santa Barbara do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Sociology degree from University of California, Santa Barbara? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Sociology degree from University of California, Santa Barbara?
• What are the best colleges for Sociology?

View a random Sociology graduate from University of California, Santa Barbara and our analysis:

Relevance score: 14% We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2012 from University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Barista Starbucks Oct 2013 - Apr 2014 The position of Barista at Starbucks does not require any knowledge or skills related to sociology, as it primarily focuses on customer service and beverage preparation. Lead Barista P-town Cafe Aug 2014 - Feb 2016 As Lead Barista at P-town Cafe, the job does not utilize sociology-specific skills or knowledge and is centered around managing café operations and serving customers. Dog Walker Wag Labs Inc. Jan 2016 - 2017 The role of Dog Walker at Wag Labs Inc. does not require sociological expertise, as it is centered on pet care rather than human behavior or social systems. Office Assistant Mayfield Robotics Feb 2016 - Oct 2018 The Office Assistant position at Mayfield Robotics may involve some understanding of organizational behavior that can be related to sociology, but it mainly focuses on administrative tasks rather than sociological application. Office Assistant Alloy Product Development Nov 2018 - Aug 2019 Similarly, as an Office Assistant at Alloy Product Development, some organizational dynamics could relate to sociology, though the job primarily involves support tasks not directly tied to the field. Dog Walker Citizen Hound Aug 2019 - Present The position of Dog Walker at Citizen Hound similarly does not engage any elements of sociology, focusing instead on the care of dogs rather than social interactions or theories. ABOUT Personable & charismatic Bay Area native with a passion for people. Results focused & connection driven.

What jobs can you get with a Sociology degree from University of California, Santa Barbara?

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

• Dog Walker
• Office Assistant
• Head Coach
• Office Manager
• Administrative Assistant
• Hostess
• Case Manager
• Fiscal Assistant
• Senior Accounting Assistant
• Clerical Supervisor

Based on the LinkedIn profiles analyzed, it seems that graduates with a sociology degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara have found themselves in a variety of roles, but not all of them directly align with the core principles of sociology. Many of the common job titles include roles like case managers, community organizers, and coordinators in social services, which reflect a strong application of sociological knowledge. These positions often necessitate understanding social dynamics, community interaction, and the complexities of human behavior, making them highly relevant to the field of sociology.

However, it's also notable that a significant number of graduates have ended up in jobs that are less aligned with their sociology training. Many have taken roles in business operations, marketing, or administrative functions, which primarily focus on skills outside the sociological domain, such as sales or project management. While there can be some overlap—like understanding consumer behavior or engaging with community needs—the essence of these roles doesn't heavily rely on the sociological insights they gained during their studies. Overall, while certain fields certainly allow for the application of sociology, many graduates seem to navigate toward careers that don't directly leverage their degree, highlighting a mix of both relevant and unrelated job paths in their professional journeys.

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 of California, Santa Barbara):

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

Graduates from the Sociology program at the University of California, Santa Barbara have shown a variety of career paths since their graduation. Many of them land their first jobs in positions that can be closely tied to social services, non-profit organizations, or education. For instance, roles like family resource center specialists, case managers, and community coordinators are common early on. This suggests that graduates are leveraging their sociological knowledge to directly engage with communities and social issues right after college. However, there's also a notable trend of graduates starting in seemingly unrelated fields or jobs, like working in cafes or entry-level positions at companies that don't explicitly connect to sociology.

Looking further down the line, about 5 to 10 years after graduation, it's clear that many alumni are navigating their way into more specialized roles, often related to consulting, management, or leadership positions, especially in non-profit sectors and education. Some have transitioned into roles like program managers or directors of community engagement, indicating a growth in responsibility and focus. However, there’s also a significant portion of graduates that seem to drift away from directly utilizing their sociology degrees, ending up in corporate roles or in areas that don't quite capture their field of study. This shows a mixed bag of outcomes — while some clearly thrive in sociologically relevant careers, others might find themselves in less fulfilling roles that don’t leverage their unique skill sets. Overall, it’s a mix of success stories and those still finding their footing in various industries.

How hard is a Sociology degree from University of California, Santa Barbara?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at University of California, Santa Barbara, is pretty manageable for most students, especially if you’ve got a genuine interest in understanding society and human behavior. The coursework involves a mix of theory, research methods, and relevant topics like inequality, culture, and social institutions, so if you enjoy reading and can write well, you’ll likely do fine. It might be a bit more challenging than some majors due to the critical thinking and analysis skills you'll need, but it’s generally not considered as tough as some STEM fields. Just stay organized, keep up with readings, and engage with your classmates, and you should be alright!

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 of California, Santa Barbara tend to make good money?

Looking at these Sociology grads from UCSB, it seems like they’ve had a mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. Some of them started out in service-oriented roles, like working in restaurants or as case managers, which typically don’t pay a whole lot, but others climbed the ladder into managerial positions or even started their own businesses. For instance, one grad became a COO and another started their own business, which could signal a shift into better earnings. Overall, while many of these jobs likely started off on the lower end of the pay scale, a few of them seem to be doing pretty well, particularly those who moved into management or entrepreneurial roles. So, if you’re thinking of a Sociology degree, it’s clear you can find ways to earn a good living, but it might take some time and strategic moves!

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 of California, Santa Barbara). 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