Best colleges for Sociology in Oregon
Ranked by graduate earnings
Oregon State University, University of Oregon and Portland State University are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Oregon by graduate earnings. Oregon State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,193, College Scorecard. University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University award the most Sociology degrees in Oregon: 98, 85 and 46 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Oregon colleges offer Sociology and award 289 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 4 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 | Oregon State University Corvallis Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,193 | 85 | 70% | — | $21,882 |
| 2 | University of Oregon Eugene Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,050 | 98 | 72% | — | $23,592 |
| 3 | Portland State University Portland Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,708 | 46 | 53% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | Willamette University Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,312 | 11 | 71% | $20,345 | $24,881 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Oregon
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 Oregon Eugene Public | 98 | $30,050 |
| 2 | Oregon State University Corvallis Public | 85 | $39,193 |
| 3 | Portland State University Portland Public | 46 | $28,708 |
| 4 | University of Portland Portland Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 5 | Willamette University Salem Private not-for-profit | 11 | $29,312 |
| 6 | Western Oregon University Monmouth Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 7 | Reed College Portland Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 8 | Linfield University McMinnville Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 9 | Pacific University Forest Grove Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 10 | George Fox University Newberg Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Oregon colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linn-Benton Community College | Albany | Public | 9 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Oregon
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Oregon.
Which Oregon colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
University of Oregon (98 graduates a year), Oregon State University (85 graduates a year) and Portland State University (46 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Oregon, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Oregon colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Oregon?+
By graduate earnings, Oregon State University leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Oregon, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,193, College Scorecard. University of Oregon and Portland State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Oregon is the largest, with 98 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Oregon has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Oregon State University tops the list at $39,193. 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card