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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Highest Paid Sociology And Anthropology Graduates

11 Colleges Ranked
$39,147 Avg Early-Career Salary
2026 Highest Paid Sociology And Anthropology Grads Badge [Sociology And Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology-and-anthropology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their sociology and anthropology graduates go on to command.

For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find where sociology and anthropology graduates earn the most.

What’s on this page:

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Finding the Highest Paying Sociology And Anthropology School for You

Where you study sociology and anthropology affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Sociology And Anthropology Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose sociology and anthropology degrees pay off the most.

See how we build our rankings

One Size Does Not Fit All

We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Sociology And Anthropology Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.

Associate's Degrees in Sociology And Anthropology
Bachelor's Degrees in Sociology And Anthropology
Master's Degrees in Sociology And Anthropology

To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.

Learn more about our methodology

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2026 Highest Paid Sociology And Anthropology Grads in the United States

Below are the schools whose sociology and anthropology graduates go on to earn the most.

Highest Paid Sociology And Anthropology Graduates

1
St Olaf College crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN
$53,357 Average Early-Career Salary

Leading the list is St Olaf College, our #1 for sociology and anthropology graduate salaries in the United States. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. After graduating, sociology and anthropology degree recipients from St Olaf College typically earn about $53,357 annually.

2
Lafayette College crest
Lafayette College
Easton, PA
$43,321 Average Early-Career Salary

Students chasing top earnings in sociology and anthropology will find them at Lafayette College, which ranked #2. Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Sociology And Anthropology graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of about $43,321 a year early in their careers.

3
Centre College crest
Centre College
Danville, KY
$60,664 Average Early-Career Salary

Students chasing top earnings in sociology and anthropology will find them at Centre College, which ranked #3. Centre College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Danville. Students who complete the sociology and anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,664.

4
Cuny College Of Staten Island crest
Cuny College Of Staten Island
Staten Island, NY
$42,385 Average Early-Career Salary

Strong graduate earnings at Cuny College Of Staten Island earned it the #4 place for sociology and anthropology. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a public school located in the city of Staten Island. Sociology And Anthropology graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of about $42,385 a year early in their careers.

5
Denison University crest
Denison University
Granville, OH
$55,049 Average Early-Career Salary

Denison University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in sociology and anthropology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology And Anthropology graduates of Denison University earn a median of about $55,049 a year early in their careers.

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6
Valdosta State University crest
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA
$43,809 Average Early-Career Salary

Valdosta State University landed the #6 spot for sociology and anthropology salaries this year. Located in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a public institution. Sociology And Anthropology graduates of Valdosta State University earn a median of about $43,809 a year early in their careers.

7
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth crest
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA
$34,388 Average Early-Career Salary

University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #7 position for sociology and anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public institution. Sociology And Anthropology graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of about $34,388 a year early in their careers.

8
Southern Oregon University crest
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, OR
$27,702 Average Early-Career Salary

Southern Oregon University came in at #8 for sociology and anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a public institution. Sociology And Anthropology graduates of Southern Oregon University earn a median of about $27,702 a year early in their careers.

9
Knox College crest
Knox College
Galesburg, IL
$26,350 Average Early-Career Salary

Knox College earned the #9 position for sociology and anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology and anthropology degree recipients from Knox College typically earn about $26,350 annually.

10
Lewis And Clark College crest
Lewis And Clark College
Portland, OR
$24,098 Average Early-Career Salary

Lewis And Clark College came in at #10 for sociology and anthropology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Portland, Lewis And Clark College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology and anthropology graduates from Lewis And Clark College make a median of around $24,098 per year.

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11
University Of Puget Sound crest
University Of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA
$19,495 Average Early-Career Salary

University Of Puget Sound ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology and anthropology schools. University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. Students who complete the sociology and anthropology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $19,495.

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Narrow Sociology And Anthropology Schools by Region

New England

Middle Atlantic

Great Lakes

The Plains States

Southeast

Southwest

Rocky Mountains

Far Western

Outlying Areas

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Other Rankings

Best Overall
in Sociology And Anthropology

Best Value
in Sociology And Anthropology

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in Sociology And Anthropology

Most Popular Online
in Sociology And Anthropology

Best for Non-Traditional Students
in Sociology And Anthropology

Best for Veterans
in Sociology And Anthropology

Most Popular
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Most Focused
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View All Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their sociology and anthropology graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).

Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 11 schools evaluated.

*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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