Best colleges for Sociology in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania State University and Millersville University of Pennsylvania are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Gettysburg College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,396, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus and Temple University award the most Sociology degrees in Pennsylvania: 45, 36 and 27 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 50 Pennsylvania colleges offer Sociology and award 503 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 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,396 | 23 | 83% | $24,453 | $22,747 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,016 | 45 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,883 | 25 | 58% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,427 | 27 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,325 | 27 | 52% | — | — |
| 6 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,323 | 24 | 56% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,274 | 36 | 85% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | King's College Wilkes-Barre Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,529 | 3 | 60% | $22,131 | — |
| 9 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,461 | 11 | 54% | — | $29,119 |
| 10 | Arcadia University Glenside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,919 | 8 | 67% | $23,796 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 45 | $35,016 |
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 36 | $30,274 |
| 3 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 27 | $33,427 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public | 27 | $32,325 |
| 5 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public | 25 | $34,883 |
| 6 | Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr Private not-for-profit | 24 | Not reported |
| 7 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 24 | $32,323 |
| 8 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit | 23 | $36,396 |
| 9 | Albright College Reading Private not-for-profit | 18 | $24,310 |
| 10 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 40 Pennsylvania colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County Community College | Media | Public | 21 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown | Public | 16 |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Cheyney | Public | 11 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | Public | 11 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester | Public | 10 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Villanova University | Villanova | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 8 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown | Public | 7 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lincoln University | Lincoln University | Public | 6 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 5 |
| Haverford College | Haverford | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Widener University | Chester | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | Bradford | Public | 3 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Eastern University | Saint Davids | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| La Roche University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Immaculata University | Immaculata | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Public | 1 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
Pennsylvania State University (45 graduates a year), University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (36 graduates a year) and Temple University (27 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 50 Pennsylvania colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Gettysburg College leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,396, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University and Millersville University of Pennsylvania follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania State University is the largest, with 45 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Gettysburg College tops the list at $36,396. 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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