Best colleges for Demography and Population Studies
A program that focuses on the systematic study of population models and population phenomena, and related problems of social structure and behavior.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 71 Demography and Population Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.0501, a specialization of Demography (CIP 45.05), and leads most directly to the Sociologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3041).
About Demography and Population Studies programs
A program that focuses on the systematic study of population models and population phenomena, and related problems of social structure and behavior. Includes instruction in population growth, spatial distribution, mortality and fertility factors, migration, dynamic population modeling, population estimation and projection, mathematical and statistical analysis of population data, population policy studies, and applications to problems in economics and government planning.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Demography and Population Studies program focuses on the systematic study of population models and phenomena, addressing social structure and behavior. It is designed for students interested in understanding population dynamics, including growth, spatial distribution, and migration, as well as their implications for society and policy. This program is ideal for those who aspire to work in social sciences and contribute to research and analysis in population studies.
Students in this program will gain core skills in data analysis, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers population growth, mortality and fertility factors, migration, and mathematical and statistical analysis of population data, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary to tackle complex social issues.
Credentials awarded
What Demography and Population Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree55 graduates / yr · 7 institutions78%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship13 graduates / yr · 5 institutions18%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.8%
- Bachelor's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.4%
Graduates over time
Demography and Population Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 113 |
| 2013 | 53 |
| 2014 | 58 |
| 2015 | 45 |
| 2016 | 77 |
| 2017 | 53 |
| 2018 | 76 |
| 2019 | 77 |
| 2020 | 66 |
| 2021 | 82 |
| 2022 | 53 |
| 2023 | 74 |
| 2024 | 109 |
| 2025 | 71 |
Top 12 institutions for Demography and Population Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 31 | 94% | $11,888 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 10 | 53% | — |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CAPublicMaster's | 6 | 87% | — |
| 4 | University of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 70% | $37,121 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 93% | — |
| 6 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicMaster's | 5 | 86% | — |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 2 | 97% | $22,055 |
| 8 | University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences San Juan, PRPublicMaster's | 2 | — | — |
| 9 | Manchester University North Manchester, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 46% | $17,980 |
| 10 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MDPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 89% | — |
| 11 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 98% | $13,729 |
| 12 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | — | — |
Offered in 9 states & territories
Where Demography and Population Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Demography programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 2 | 32 | Johns Hopkins University31 / yr |
| California | 3 | 17 | University of California-Irvine6 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 10 | The University of Texas at San Antonio10 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 5 | Florida State University5 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | University of Pennsylvania2 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 2 | University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences2 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 1 | Manchester University1 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 1 | Princeton University1 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3041, Sociologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Demography and Population Studies program can pursue careers as sociologists, sociology teachers, and social scientists. The job outlook for related occupations is about as fast as average, with an annual opening of 300 positions and a median wage of $101,690, typically requiring a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.0501
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sociologistsprimary SOC 19-3041 | $106,030 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~300 | Master's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other SOC 19-3099 | $101,110 | -1.7% Decline | ~3,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1067 | $84,290 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Demography and Population Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
- Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
- Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach sociology.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
Tools and technology used
Other Demography specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Demography (CIP 45.05).
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Applied Demography45.0502
- Demography45.0599
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Doctor's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Bachelor's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in data analysis, critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a sociologist, sociology teacher, or in various social science roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 300 annual openings and a median wage of $101,690.
What is the CIP code for Demography and Population Studies?+
Demography and Population Studies is CIP 45.0501 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Demography (CIP 45.05). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the systematic study of population models and population phenomena, and related problems of social structure and behavior. Includes instruction in population growth, spatial distribution, mortality and fertility factors, migration, dynamic population modeling, population estimation and projection, mathematical and statistical analysis of population data, population policy studies, and applications to problems in economics and government planning.
How many institutions offer Demography and Population Studies programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Demography and Population Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states & territories, awarding 71 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Demography graduates.
How much do Demography and Population Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Sociologists occupation, which Demography and Population Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $106,030 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Demography graduates, so its figures match the Demography program page.
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