Best colleges for Sociology in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northwestern University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Northern Illinois University are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Northwestern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,402, College Scorecard. Illinois State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Chicago award the most Sociology degrees in Illinois: 81, 49 and 39 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Illinois colleges offer Sociology and award 515 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…
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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,402 | 28 | 95% | $14,799 | $14,567 |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,415 | 25 | 57% | — | $26,500 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,150 | 29 | 49% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,435 | 39 | 62% | — | $19,315 |
| 5 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,004 | 32 | 73% | $33,454 | $22,250 |
| 6 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,644 | 33 | 68% | $28,141 | $24,500 |
| 7 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,636 | 81 | 65% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,548 | 49 | 85% | — | $21,154 |
| 9 | Chicago State University Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,687 | 8 | 15% | — | $38,087 |
| 10 | McKendree University Lebanon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,015 | 17 | 53% | $23,994 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Illinois
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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 81 | $33,636 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 49 | $31,548 |
| 3 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 39 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 39 | $34,435 |
| 5 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 33 | $33,644 |
| 6 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 32 | $34,004 |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 29 | $35,150 |
| 8 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 28 | $38,402 |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 25 | $35,415 |
| 10 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 25 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 22 Illinois colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | Public | 13 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 9 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 8 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 2 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
Illinois State University (81 graduates a year), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (49 graduates a year) and University of Chicago (39 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Illinois colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Northwestern University leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,402, College Scorecard. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Northern Illinois University follow. By degrees awarded, Illinois State University is the largest, with 81 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northwestern University tops the list at $38,402. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Sociologists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Sociologists in Illinois is $143,940 (median $140,770). Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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.
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