Best institutions to study Rural Sociology
A program that focuses on the structure and function of rural societies.
4 U.S. institutions graduated 46 Rural Sociology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.1103, a specialization of Sociology (CIP 45.11), and leads most directly to the Sociologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3041).
About Rural Sociology programs
A program that focuses on the structure and function of rural societies. Includes instruction in sociological theory, research methods, statistics, sociology of agriculture, community development, social and economic development, demography, rural poverty, gender roles in rural societies, and environmental sociology.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
Rural Sociology is a specialized program within the field of Sociology that focuses on the structure and function of rural societies. It is designed for students interested in understanding the dynamics of rural communities, including their social, economic, and environmental aspects. This program is ideal for those who wish to engage with issues such as rural poverty, community development, and the sociology of agriculture.
Students in this program will gain core skills in sociological theory, research methods, and statistics. Coursework typically includes topics such as demography, gender roles in rural societies, and environmental sociology, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of rural social dynamics.
Credentials awarded
What Rural Sociology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree26 graduates / yr · 3 institutions57%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship11 graduates / yr · 1 institution24%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate7 graduates / yr · 1 institution15%
- Master's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.3%
Graduates over time
Rural Sociology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2023 | 30 |
| 2024 | 54 |
| 2025 | 46 |
Top 4 institutions for Rural Sociology, 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 | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 17 | 95% | $17,613 | $36,709 |
| 2 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 36% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor's | 10 | 90% | — | $35,889 |
| 4 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicPost-degree cert. | 7 | 70% | — | $39,193 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Sociology field (CIP 45.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 4 states
Where Rural Sociology graduates come from. Each state links to all Sociology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 | 17 | Cornell University17 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 12 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College12 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 10 | University of Wisconsin - Madison10 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 7 | Oregon State University7 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3041, Sociologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Rural Sociology can pursue careers as sociologists, with an average annual wage of $101,690. The job outlook for sociologists is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 3.6% and approximately 300 annual openings. A Master's degree is typically required for advanced positions in this field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.1103
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 Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other SOC 25-1069 | $72,990 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~1,500 | Doctoral or professional 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 Rural Sociology 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 Sociology specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Sociology (CIP 45.11).
Common questions
What degrees are offered in Rural Sociology?+
Degrees include Bachelor's, Master's, Doctor's, and Postbaccalaureate certificates.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Rural Sociology?+
You can work as a sociologist, social sciences teacher, or in community development roles.
How many colleges in the U.S. offer this program?+
Currently, there are four colleges in the U.S. offering Rural Sociology.
What is the CIP code for Rural Sociology?+
Rural Sociology is CIP 45.1103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Sociology (CIP 45.11). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the structure and function of rural societies. Includes instruction in sociological theory, research methods, statistics, sociology of agriculture, community development, social and economic development, demography, rural poverty, gender roles in rural societies, and environmental sociology.
How many institutions offer Rural Sociology programs?+
4 U.S. institutions reported Rural Sociology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states, awarding 46 credentials in the year. That is 0.2% of all Sociology graduates.
How much do Rural Sociology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Sociologists occupation, which Rural Sociology most directly leads to, pays a median of $106,030 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Sociology field report median earnings of $36,709 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
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