Colorado · Sociology

Best colleges for Sociology in Colorado

Ranked by graduate earnings

Adams State University, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Boulder are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Colorado by graduate earnings. Adams State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,948, College Scorecard. Colorado State University - Fort Collins, University of Colorado Boulder and University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus award the most Sociology degrees in Colorado: 161, 156 and 39 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Colorado colleges offer Sociology and award 588 degrees and certificates a year in all.

Sociology is the scientific study of human society, focusing on social behavior, relationships, and cultural aspects of everyday life. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of social interactions…

Institutions
21
offering CIP 45.11
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
588
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$37,389
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
10
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,510
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
46%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sociologists
—
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Adams State University
Alamosa Public · Bachelor's degree
$46,9482939%—$29,441
2University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,0113946%—$31,000
3University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,95815674%—$17,819
4Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Fort Collins Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,33516167%—$23,000
5University of Northern Colorado
Greeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,0772351%—$27,000
6Fort Lewis College
Durango Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,5532336%—$19,213
7University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,2262747%—$22,625
8Western Colorado University
Gunnison Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$43,1781150%——
9Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$42,0221732%—$26,000
10Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$37,3891740%—$23,000

Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Colorado

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Fort Collins Public
161$37,335
2University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder Public
156$37,958
3University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver Public
39$40,011
4Adams State University
Alamosa Public
29$46,948
5University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Public
27$27,226
6Colorado College
Colorado Springs Private not-for-profit
26Not reported
7University of Denver
Denver Private not-for-profit
24Not reported
8Fort Lewis College
Durango Public
23$27,553
9University of Northern Colorado
Greeley Public
23$36,077
10Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver Public
17$42,022
Show the other 11 Colorado colleges offering Sociology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Colorado State University PuebloPuebloPublic17
Western Colorado UniversityGunnisonPublic11
Front Range Community CollegeWestminsterPublic9
Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand JunctionPublic6
Regis UniversityDenverPrivate not-for-profit5
Pueblo Community CollegePuebloPublic4
Community College of AuroraAuroraPublic3
Community College of DenverDenverPublic3
Pikes Peak State CollegeColorado SpringsPublic3
Northeastern Junior CollegeSterlingPublic1
Red Rocks Community CollegeLakewoodPublic1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.6%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$101,690
typically Master's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningWritingActive LearningReading ComprehensionCritical Thinking

What Sociologists earn in Colorado

Jobs in Colorado
—
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
—
annual
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
$86,390 avg · 220 jobs
Social Science Research Assistants
$52,370 avg · 100 jobs
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other
—
Sociologists
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Colorado.

Which Colorado colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+

Colorado State University - Fort Collins (161 graduates a year), University of Colorado Boulder (156 graduates a year) and University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (39 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Colorado colleges offer Sociology.

What is the best college for Sociology in Colorado?+

By graduate earnings, Adams State University leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Colorado, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,948, College Scorecard. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Boulder follow. By degrees awarded, Colorado State University - Fort Collins is the largest, with 161 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Sociology program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Adams State University tops the list at $46,948. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

What is the focus of the Sociology program?+

Sociology is the scientific study of human society, focusing on social behavior, relationships, and cultural aspects of everyday life. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of social interactions…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop speaking, active listening, writing, active learning, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Sociologists?+

The national job outlook is about +3.6% growth with around 300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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