Best colleges for Sociology in Indiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
Purdue University, University of Notre Dame and Ball State University are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. Purdue University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,826, College Scorecard. Purdue University, University of Notre Dame and Indiana University - Bloomington award the most Sociology degrees in Indiana: 179, 42 and 33 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 Indiana colleges offer Sociology and award 428 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 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,826 | 179 | 83% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,915 | 42 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,800 |
| 3 | Ball State University Muncie Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,973 | 29 | 62% | — | $22,198 |
| 4 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,939 | 28 | 54% | — | $24,539 |
| 5 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,296 | 33 | 80% | — | $19,464 |
| 6 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,255 | 7 | 48% | — | — |
| 7 | Franklin College Franklin Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,759 | 6 | 60% | $22,055 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Purdue University Northwest Hammond Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,334 | 8 | 43% | — | $24,500 |
| 9 | Indiana University - Kokomo Kokomo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,740 | 3 | 46% | — | $20,993 |
| 10 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,749 | 9 | 36% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Indiana
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 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public | 179 | $36,826 |
| 2 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Private not-for-profit | 42 | $35,915 |
| 3 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public | 33 | $30,296 |
| 4 | Ball State University Muncie Public | 29 | $32,973 |
| 5 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public | 28 | $30,939 |
| 6 | University of Indianapolis Indianapolis Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 7 | Indiana University - East Richmond Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 8 | Saint Mary's College Notre Dame Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Public | 9 | $27,749 |
| 10 | Purdue University Northwest Hammond Public | 8 | $35,334 |
ShowHide the other 17 Indiana colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanover College | Hanover | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| University of Southern Indiana | Evansville | Public | 7 |
| Marian University | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Butler University | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Franklin College | Franklin | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Goshen College | Goshen | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Indiana University - Southeast | New Albany | Public | 6 |
| University of Evansville | Evansville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Indiana University - Kokomo | Kokomo | Public | 3 |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bethel University | Mishawaka | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| DePauw University | Greencastle | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Indiana University - South Bend | South Bend | Public | 2 |
| Indiana University - Northwest | Gary | Public | 2 |
| Taylor University | Upland | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Manchester University | North Manchester | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Indiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Indiana.
Which Indiana colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
Purdue University (179 graduates a year), University of Notre Dame (42 graduates a year) and Indiana University - Bloomington (33 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 Indiana colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Indiana?+
By graduate earnings, Purdue University leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,826, College Scorecard. University of Notre Dame and Ball State University follow. By degrees awarded, Purdue University is the largest, with 179 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Purdue University tops the list at $36,826. 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.
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