Best colleges for Sociology in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Virginia, George Mason University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. University of Virginia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,786, College Scorecard. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Old Dominion University and University of Virginia award the most Sociology degrees in Virginia: 172, 61 and 59 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 Virginia colleges offer Sociology and award 653 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 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,786 | 59 | 96% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,916 | 41 | 68% | — | $20,514 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,768 | 172 | 86% | — | $22,859 |
| 4 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,946 | 61 | 46% | — | $26,100 |
| 5 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,977 | 37 | 72% | — | $25,548 |
| 6 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,781 | 56 | 63% | — | $26,285 |
| 7 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,513 | 42 | 80% | — | $19,168 |
| 8 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,656 | 6 | 70% | $26,498 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Roanoke College Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,983 | 9 | 67% | $24,604 | $27,000 |
| 10 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,499 | 19 | 66% | — | $23,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Virginia
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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 172 | $38,768 |
| 2 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 61 | $37,946 |
| 3 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 59 | $45,786 |
| 4 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 56 | $32,781 |
| 5 | Norfolk State University Norfolk Public | 49 | Not reported |
| 6 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 42 | $31,513 |
| 7 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 41 | $38,916 |
| 8 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 37 | $36,977 |
| 9 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public | 19 | $35,499 |
ShowHide the other 17 Virginia colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 15 |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 12 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 9 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Virginia University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (172 graduates a year), Old Dominion University (61 graduates a year) and University of Virginia (59 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 Virginia colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, University of Virginia leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,786, College Scorecard. George Mason University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University follow. By degrees awarded, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is the largest, with 172 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Virginia tops the list at $45,786. 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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