Best institutions to study Sociology
Compare 1,032 U.S. colleges offering Sociology by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 52 states.
Sociology programs report a median of $34,121 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 45.11 and the Sociologists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Sociology programs
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 and the factors that influence human behavior within various contexts. It offers a comprehensive exploration of both individual and societal dynamics.
Students in sociology programs develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes empirical investigation methods, data analysis, and the study of sociological theories, providing a solid foundation in understanding social structures and changes.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,377 | 37 | 96% | $14,689 | $19,250 |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,541 | 85 | 96% | $15,315 | $31,000 |
| 3 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,612 | 12 | 88% | $44,094 | — |
| 4 | Colgate University Hamilton, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,788 | 34 | 91% | $22,903 | — |
| 5 | Trinity College Hartford, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,077 | 12 | 84% | $25,245 | — |
| 6 | King's College Wilkes-Barre, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,529 | 3 | 60% | $22,131 | — |
| 7 | Barnard College New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,215 | 28 | 93% | $24,675 | $15,899 |
| 8 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,091 | 31 | 91% | $21,126 | $19,000 |
| 9 | Tufts University Medford, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,859 | 15 | 94% | $23,570 | $15,000 |
| 10 | Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,749 | 11 | 95% | $15,454 | — |
| 11 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,633 | 93 | 57% | $10,199 | $29,278 |
| 12 | The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,953 | 18 | 86% | — | $24,208 |
| 13 | Adams State University Alamosa, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,948 | 29 | 39% | — | $29,441 |
| 14 | National University San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,505 | 39 | 43% | $31,817 | $28,125 |
| 15 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,257 | 27 | 89% | $20,914 | $23,000 |
| 16 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,786 | 59 | 96% | — | $20,500 |
| 17 | Duke University Durham, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,551 | 48 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 18 | Brandeis University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,287 | 23 | 86% | $25,074 | $27,000 |
| 19 | Winona State University Winona, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,505 | 6 | 57% | — | $21,687 |
| 20 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,202 | 69 | 11% | $26,445 | $39,041 |
| 21 | Western Colorado University Gunnison, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,178 | 11 | 50% | — | — |
| 22 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,150 | 38 | 80% | — | $23,500 |
| 23 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,985 | 30 | 71% | — | $25,946 |
| 24 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,984 | 3 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 25 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,710 | 118 | 51% | — | $11,247 |
| 26 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,703 | 24 | 69% | — | $23,001 |
| 27 | Chicago State University Chicago, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,687 | 8 | 15% | — | $38,087 |
| 28 | Occidental College Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,653 | 21 | 81% | $28,024 | $21,250 |
| 29 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,554 | 17 | 73% | — | $23,250 |
| 30 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,507 | 24 | 75% | — | $24,250 |
| 31 | Bates College Lewiston, ME Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,170 | 15 | 90% | $18,203 | $12,610 |
| 32 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,108 | 17 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 33 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NH Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,048 | 31 | 76% | — | $27,000 |
| 34 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,022 | 17 | 32% | — | $26,000 |
| 35 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,624 | 34 | 91% | $18,925 | $27,000 |
| 36 | University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,460 | 1 | 40% | — | — |
| 37 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,250 | 9 | 68% | — | $24,594 |
| 38 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,062 | 28 | 54% | — | — |
| 39 | University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,871 | 21 | 47% | — | $26,750 |
| 40 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,774 | 251 | 93% | — | $13,131 |
| 41 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,763 | 114 | 50% | — | $15,000 |
| 42 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,675 | 20 | 84% | $26,083 | $21,000 |
| 43 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,602 | 16 | 75% | — | $21,935 |
| 44 | University of Massachusetts - Boston Boston, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,569 | 37 | 49% | — | $28,750 |
| 45 | CUNY York College Jamaica, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,515 | 21 | 32% | — | $14,650 |
| 46 | Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,451 | 13 | 53% | $25,892 | $29,250 |
| 47 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,451 | 3 | 64% | — | $27,750 |
| 48 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,401 | 34 | 56% | — | $14,125 |
| 49 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,255 | 7 | 48% | — | — |
| 50 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,236 | 12 | 62% | — | $26,000 |
Offered across 52 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3041, Sociologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates with a degree in sociology can pursue various careers, with a median wage of $101,690. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated 300 annual openings and a growth rate of 3.6%. A master's degree is typically required for advanced positions in this field.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Sociology
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 45.11.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 45.11 (Sociology) maps to 5 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 19-3041 | Sociologistsprimary |
| 19-4061 | Social Science Research Assistants |
| 25-1067 | Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1069 | Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Sociology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
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.
Concentrations within Sociology
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Sociology, GeneralCIP 45.1101
A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships
- Applied/Public SociologyCIP 45.1102
A program that focuses on the application of sociological theory, methods, skills, and research to resolve particular issues in real-world settings
- Rural SociologyCIP 45.1103
A program that focuses on the structure and function of rural societies
- Sociology, OtherCIP 45.1199
Any instructional program in sociology not listed above.
Common questions
What can I do with a degree in sociology?+
A sociology degree opens doors to careers in research, education, social services, and public policy.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, data analysis, communication, and research methodologies.
What is the typical education requirement for sociology careers?+
Most sociology careers require at least a master's degree.
What is the job outlook for sociology graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.6% and around 300 annual job openings.
How much do Sociology graduates earn?+
Sociology graduates report median earnings of $34,121 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Sociologists occupation pays about $114,920 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Sociology?+
Sociology maps to CIP 45.11 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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