Best colleges for Sociology in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Western Michigan University, Michigan State University and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Western Michigan University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,399, College Scorecard. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University and Wayne State University award the most Sociology degrees in Michigan: 129, 108 and 42 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Michigan colleges offer Sociology and award 415 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 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,399 | 20 | 58% | — | $25,585 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,055 | 108 | 81% | — | $26,985 |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,832 | 129 | 93% | — | $18,568 |
| 4 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,381 | 42 | 58% | — | $30,422 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Flint Flint Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,460 | 1 | 40% | — | — |
| 6 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,132 | 17 | 67% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,919 | 11 | 46% | — | $35,155 |
| 8 | Hope College Holland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,181 | 11 | 80% | $21,746 | $24,488 |
| 9 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,785 | 7 | 59% | — | $28,563 |
| 10 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $20,126 | 15 | 58% | — | $20,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Michigan
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 Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 129 | $33,832 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 108 | $35,055 |
| 3 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 42 | $31,381 |
| 4 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 20 | $35,399 |
| 5 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 17 | $32,132 |
| 6 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 15 | $20,126 |
| 7 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 11 | $29,919 |
| 8 | Hope College Holland Private not-for-profit | 11 | $29,181 |
| 9 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 7 | $28,785 |
ShowHide the other 14 Michigan colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn | Public | 7 |
| Albion College | Albion | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Public | 6 |
| Alpena Community College | Alpena | Public | 5 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Public | 5 |
| Lake Michigan College | Benton Harbor | Public | 4 |
| Alma College | Alma | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton | Public | 2 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Public | 1 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (129 graduates a year), Michigan State University (108 graduates a year) and Wayne State University (42 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Michigan colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Western Michigan University leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,399, College Scorecard. Michigan State University and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor follow. By degrees awarded, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the largest, with 129 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Western Michigan University tops the list at $35,399. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Sociologists earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Sociologists in Michigan is $105,120 (median $88,040), across about 90 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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