Sociology & Anthropology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 61 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for sociology & anthropology students pursuing a degree.
DEBUG: Checking offer "Anthropology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Anthropology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Sociology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Sociology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Anthropology" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Anthropology" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Sociology" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Sociology" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BSW - Social Work (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BSW - Social Work (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "DSW - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "DSW - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MSW - Social Work (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MSW - Social Work (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "PhD - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "PhD - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Doctorate Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Doctorate Programs (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 4
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 2 offers with relevance >= 0.8
Choosing a Great Sociology & Anthropology School
The school you choose for sociology & anthropology can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Sociology & Anthropology Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Sociology & Anthropology School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Sociology & Anthropology Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
DEBUG: Checking offer "Anthropology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Anthropology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Sociology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Sociology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Anthropology" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Anthropology" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Sociology" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Sociology" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BSW - Social Work (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BSW - Social Work (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "DSW - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "DSW - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MSW - Social Work (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MSW - Social Work (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "PhD - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "PhD - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Doctorate Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Doctorate Programs (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 4
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 2 offers with relevance >= 0.8
ADBLOCK #171
Best Schools for Sociology & Anthropology in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the sociology & anthropology degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Swarthmore College this year for sociology & anthropology. Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Swarthmore. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Swarthmore College awarded about 11 sociology & anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Swarthmore College earn a median of $66,971 early in their careers. Swarthmore College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology & anthropology from Swarthmore College
A rank of #2 makes Lafayette College one of the top schools for sociology & anthropology. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 sociology & anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology & anthropology degree from Lafayette College earn around $43,321 in the first couple years of their career. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $17,549 in student loans.
Get the full sociology & anthropology details for Lafayette College
Students looking for a strong sociology & anthropology program will find one at Carleton College, which ranked #3. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 14 sociology & anthropology degrees were awarded at Carleton College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $45,096. Typical student debt for the program is $17,566.
See the full sociology & anthropology program report for Carleton College
A rank of #4 makes St Olaf College one of the top schools for sociology & anthropology. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. St Olaf College graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 sociology & anthropology students who graduated with this degree at St Olaf College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology & anthropology program make about $40,848 in their early career. St Olaf College graduates carry a median of $24,644 in student loans.
See the full sociology & anthropology program report for St Olaf College
Students looking for a strong sociology & anthropology program will find one at Centre College, which ranked #5. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Danville. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 15 sociology & anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Centre College in the most recent data year. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Centre College earn a median of $29,054 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full sociology & anthropology details for Centre College
Pace University New York ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best sociology & anthropology schools. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Pace University New York graduates 60% of students within six years. About 16 sociology & anthropology degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology & anthropology program make about $59,662 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,670 to complete this degree.
Get the full sociology & anthropology details for Pace University New York
Cuny College Of Staten Island landed the #7 spot for sociology & anthropology this year. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Cuny College Of Staten Island awarded about 55 sociology & anthropology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $34,139. Cuny College Of Staten Island graduates carry a median of $15,180 in student loans.
Read more about the sociology & anthropology program at Cuny College Of Staten Island
Lewis And Clark College placed #8 among the best sociology & anthropology schools. Located in the city of Portland, Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Lewis And Clark College graduates 75% of students within six years. About 33 sociology & anthropology degrees were awarded at Lewis And Clark College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Lewis And Clark College generally make around $24,098. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full sociology & anthropology details for Lewis And Clark College
Wofford College came in at #9 for sociology & anthropology this year. Located in the city of Spartanburg, Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 15 sociology & anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Wofford College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology & anthropology degree from Wofford College earn around $41,052 in the first couple years of their career. Wofford College graduates carry a median of $24,643 in student loans.
Get the full sociology & anthropology details for Wofford College
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #10 for sociology & anthropology this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates 52% of students within six years. About 19 sociology & anthropology degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology & anthropology program make about $34,388 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the sociology & anthropology program at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Lake Forest College placed #11 among the best sociology & anthropology schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 20 sociology & anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Lake Forest College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology & anthropology degree from Lake Forest College earn around $41,168 in the first couple years of their career. Lake Forest College graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology & anthropology from Lake Forest College
University Of Puget Sound landed the #12 spot for sociology & anthropology this year. University Of Puget Sound is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 sociology & anthropology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Puget Sound in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology & anthropology program make about $19,495 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,924.
Get the full sociology & anthropology details for University Of Puget Sound
Southern Oregon University earned the #13 position for sociology & anthropology this year. Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ashland. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 sociology & anthropology degrees were awarded at Southern Oregon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology & anthropology degree from Southern Oregon University earn around $27,702 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Oregon University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology & anthropology from Southern Oregon University
Knox College placed #14 among the best sociology & anthropology schools. Set in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 12 sociology & anthropology degrees were awarded at Knox College in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology & anthropology program make about $26,350 in their early career. Knox College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full sociology & anthropology program report for Knox College
Valdosta State University landed the #15 spot for sociology & anthropology this year. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 sociology & anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Valdosta State University in the most recent data year. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Valdosta State University earn a median of $30,802 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $37,249.
Get the full sociology & anthropology details for Valdosta State University
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 61 schools evaluated.
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).
