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2026 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Sociology & Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology-and-anthropology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sociology & anthropology students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in the The Plains States Region

2026 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in the The Plains States Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sociology & anthropology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools

1

St Olaf College
Northfield, MN

$59,760 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,644 Avg Student Debt

$65,543 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is St Olaf College, our #1 best value for sociology & anthropology in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,760 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,644 to complete the sociology & anthropology program here. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $40,848 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.

2

Carleton College
Northfield, MN

$68,892 In-State Tuition & Fees

$17,566 Avg Student Debt

$75,525 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in sociology & anthropology will find it at Carleton College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,892. Students borrow a median of $17,566 to complete the sociology & anthropology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $45,096. That is a strong return on a $17,566 median debt. The acceptance rate is 20%.

View All Sociology & Anthropology Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.