Best colleges for Sociology in New Jersey
Ranked by graduate earnings
Kean University, William Paterson University of New Jersey and Rutgers University - New Brunswick are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in New Jersey by graduate earnings. Kean University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,432, College Scorecard. New Jersey City University, Rutgers University - New Brunswick and Princeton University award the most Sociology degrees in New Jersey: 50, 50 and 49 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 New Jersey colleges offer Sociology and award 427 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 | Kean University Union Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,432 | 39 | 47% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,528 | 47 | 44% | — | $25,531 |
| 3 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,344 | 50 | 84% | — | $24,405 |
| 4 | Princeton University Princeton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,914 | 49 | 98% | $13,729 | — |
| 5 | Montclair State University Montclair Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,268 | 39 | 65% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey City University Jersey City Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,082 | 50 | 34% | — | $25,781 |
| 7 | Rowan University Glassboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,863 | 28 | 67% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | The College of New Jersey Ewing Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,953 | 18 | 86% | — | $24,208 |
| 9 | Rider University Lawrenceville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,705 | 7 | 61% | $23,844 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,034 | 11 | 70% | — | $20,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in New Jersey
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 | New Jersey City University Jersey City Public | 50 | $32,082 |
| 2 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public | 50 | $34,344* |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton Private not-for-profit | 49 | $32,914 |
| 4 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public | 47 | $35,528 |
| 5 | Kean University Union Public | 39 | $36,432 |
| 6 | Montclair State University Montclair Public | 39 | $32,268 |
| 7 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark Public | 31 | $34,344* |
| 8 | Rowan University Glassboro Public | 28 | $29,863 |
| 9 | The College of New Jersey Ewing Public | 18 | $46,953 |
| 10 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State University Bloomfield Public | 15 | $33,930 |
ShowHide the other 11 New Jersey colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | Mahwah | Public | 11 |
| Stockton University | Galloway | Public | 11 |
| Monmouth University | West Long Branch | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Rider University | Lawrenceville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Saint Peter's University | Jersey City | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Rutgers University - Camden | Camden | Public | 6 |
| Drew University | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Caldwell University | Caldwell | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Centenary University | Hackettstown | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in New Jersey
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in New Jersey.
Which New Jersey colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
New Jersey City University (50 graduates a year), Rutgers University - New Brunswick (50 graduates a year) and Princeton University (49 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 New Jersey colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in New Jersey?+
By graduate earnings, Kean University leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in New Jersey, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,432, College Scorecard. William Paterson University of New Jersey and Rutgers University - New Brunswick follow. By degrees awarded, New Jersey City University is the largest, with 50 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in New Jersey has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Kean University tops the list at $36,432. 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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