North Carolina · Sociology

Best institutions to study Sociology in North Carolina

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…

Institutions
30
offering CIP 45.11
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
910
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$31,928
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
15
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,549
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
59%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sociologists
$129,740
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$46,2572789%$20,914$23,000
2Duke University
Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$45,5514897%$16,260
3North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,5106685%$22,787
4University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Pembroke Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,05112744%$28,526
5Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,5448938%$31,888
6East Carolina University
Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,9285063%$25,750
7University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,89714669%$26,798
8Appalachian State University
Boone Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,5594475%$20,606
9University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,6237091%$14,925
10University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,2203271%$24,125

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.6%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$101,690
typically Master's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningWritingActive LearningReading ComprehensionCritical Thinking

What Sociologists earn in North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
170
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$129,740
median $126,760
Best-paying metro
$129,900
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Related careers

Social Science Research Assistants
$65,260 avg · 2,930 jobs
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
$82,130 avg · 550 jobs
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other
avg · 410 jobs
Sociologists
$129,740 avg · 170 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in North Carolina.

Which Sociology program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Wake Forest University tops the list at $46,257. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sociologists earn in North Carolina?+

The average annual wage for Sociologists in North Carolina is $129,740 (median $126,760), across about 170 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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