Best colleges for Sociology in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Boston College, Brandeis University and Northeastern University are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Boston College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,091, College Scorecard. University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Boston University and University of Massachusetts-Boston award the most Sociology degrees in Massachusetts: 105, 41 and 37 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 Massachusetts colleges offer Sociology and award 541 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 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,091 | 31 | 91% | $21,126 | $19,000 |
| 2 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,287 | 23 | 86% | $25,074 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,624 | 34 | 91% | $18,925 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,675 | 20 | 84% | $26,083 | $21,000 |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,569 | 37 | 49% | — | $28,750 |
| 6 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,457 | 41 | 89% | $21,956 | $26,750 |
| 7 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,583 | 33 | 87% | $24,533 | $26,449 |
| 8 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,680 | 24 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Worcester State University Worcester Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,636 | 20 | 61% | — | $24,975 |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,686 | 105 | 83% | — | $25,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Massachusetts
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 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 105 | $31,686 |
| 2 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 41 | $38,457 |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public | 37 | $40,569 |
| 4 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 34 | $41,624 |
| 5 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit | 33 | $36,583 |
| 6 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit | 31 | $48,091 |
| 7 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater Public | 24 | $35,680 |
| 8 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit | 23 | $45,287 |
| 9 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley Private not-for-profit | 20 | $40,675 |
| 10 | Worcester State University Worcester Public | 20 | $33,636 |
ShowHide the other 29 Massachusetts colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell | Public | 16 |
| Clark University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Suffolk University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Tufts University | Medford | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Public | 11 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Framingham State University | Framingham | Public | 7 |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | North Adams | Public | 6 |
| Smith College | Northampton | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| American International College | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Assumption University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Stonehill College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Williams College | Williamstown | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Curry College | Milton | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Emmanuel College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Public | 4 |
| Salem State University | Salem | Public | 4 |
| Simmons University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Hampshire College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lesley University | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | Public | 3 |
| Amherst College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | Public | 2 |
| Holyoke Community College | Holyoke | Public | 2 |
| Dean College | Franklin | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Fisher College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | Chicopee | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
University of Massachusetts-Amherst (105 graduates a year), Boston University (41 graduates a year) and University of Massachusetts-Boston (37 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 Massachusetts colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Boston College leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,091, College Scorecard. Brandeis University and Northeastern University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is the largest, with 105 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Boston College tops the list at $48,091. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Sociologists earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Sociologists in Massachusetts is $123,460 (median $106,530), across about 250 jobs. 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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