Best colleges for Sociology in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Missouri-Columbia and Missouri State University - Springfield are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. University of Missouri-Kansas City leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,810, College Scorecard. University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Missouri State University - Springfield award the most Sociology degrees in Missouri: 52, 21 and 20 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Missouri colleges offer Sociology and award 210 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 8 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 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,810 | 21 | 55% | — | $20,799 |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,386 | 52 | 75% | — | $22,500 |
| 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,819 | 20 | 58% | — | $25,191 |
| 4 | Columbia College Columbia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,758 | 8 | 42% | $23,247 | $32,276 |
| 5 | Drury University Springfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,881 | 3 | 62% | $20,482 | $33,900 |
| 6 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,942 | 15 | 57% | — | $26,686 |
| 7 | Harris-Stowe State University Saint Louis Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,268 | 4 | 28% | — | $25,750 |
| 8 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,238 | 7 | 54% | — | $24,100 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Missouri
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 Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 52 | $33,386 |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public | 21 | $36,810 |
| 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 20 | $31,819 |
| 4 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public | 15 | $34,942 |
| 6 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 7 | Truman State University Kirksville Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 8 | Columbia College Columbia Private not-for-profit | 8 | $37,758 |
| 9 | Park University Parkville Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public | 7 | $28,238 |
ShowHide the other 10 Missouri colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Missouri Southern State University | Joplin | Public | 6 |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| College of the Ozarks | Point Lookout | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | Saint Louis | Public | 4 |
| Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | Fayette | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Drury University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended Studies | Fayette | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lincoln University | Jefferson City | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
University of Missouri-Columbia (52 graduates a year), University of Missouri-Kansas City (21 graduates a year) and Missouri State University - Springfield (20 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Missouri colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Kansas City leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,810, College Scorecard. University of Missouri-Columbia and Missouri State University - Springfield follow. By degrees awarded, University of Missouri-Columbia is the largest, with 52 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Missouri-Kansas City tops the list at $36,810. 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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