Best colleges for Sociology in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Washington State University and Central Washington University are the top bachelor's Sociology programs in Washington by graduate earnings. University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,062, College Scorecard. University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Western Washington University and Washington State University award the most Sociology degrees in Washington: 160, 98 and 66 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Washington colleges offer Sociology and award 455 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 8 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 Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,062 | 160 | 85% | — | $19,286 |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,801 | 66 | 60% | — | $21,475 |
| 3 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,466 | 30 | 54% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,039 | 98 | 65% | — | $20,087 |
| 5 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,317 | 8 | 69% | $19,944 | $21,000 |
| 6 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,675 | 17 | 86% | $30,006 | $25,991 |
| 7 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,727 | 15 | 71% | $23,510 | $26,873 |
| 8 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,958 | 18 | 62% | $24,653 | $25,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Sociology degrees in Washington
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 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 160 | $40,062 |
| 2 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 98 | $33,039 |
| 3 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 66 | $39,801 |
| 4 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 30 | $36,466 |
| 5 | Whitman College Walla Walla Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 6 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 18 | $25,958 |
| 7 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 17 | $33,675 |
| 8 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 9 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 15 | $32,727 |
| 10 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 8 | $35,317 |
ShowHide the other 1 Washington colleges offering Sociology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+
University of Washington-Seattle Campus (160 graduates a year), Western Washington University (98 graduates a year) and Washington State University (66 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Washington colleges offer Sociology.
What is the best college for Sociology in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads among bachelor's Sociology programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,062, College Scorecard. Washington State University and Central Washington University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the largest, with 160 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sociology program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Washington-Seattle Campus tops the list at $40,062. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Sociologists earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Sociologists in Washington is $103,430 (median $97,170), across about 130 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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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