by our College Data Analytics TeamCalling all social butterflies! We have the perfect major for you. Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. All about understanding "the big picture", this major provides a global perspective of how the social world works. Sociology is the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Instead of viewing the world from one lens, you will be asked to analyze the world from diverse perspectives.
Classroom instruction includes social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, and social deviance and control. You will also study specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
Students will integrate findings from economics, political science, psychology and history into Sociology studies. You will learn how businesses work from a human relations standpoint, how politics work through the study of social movements, how communities create culture, religion, and family, and how societies create opportunities and perpetuate inequalities.
Studying Sociology involves the study of Sociology. Read on to learn the key facts every sociology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering sociology programs.
In the U.S., sociology is a widely-pursued major, with 31,380 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Sociology Schools ranking analyzes these 1,060 schools to determine the best overall colleges for sociology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sociology programs later in this article.
Studies in Sociology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations sociology graduates commonly enter.
This major is for those who are curious about cultures and how they work. A cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of how other cultures work and interact is helpful to this field. This is especially true regarding racial, ethnic, and gender differences in approaches to work. You should strive to be free of traditional stereotypes and embrace a global perspective of the world.
Sociology deals with the big picture questions about how humans interact. It helps to be able to draw meaning from numbers and facts. You will need to be able to interpret group behavior to make assessments about the group dynamic. In addition to analyzing human behavior, other abilities needed for a career in sociology include communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
The skill set emphasized by a sociology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a sociology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several sociology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,001 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 24,388 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,400 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 591 |
People currently working in careers related to sociology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in sociology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Those who graduate from this program find jobs both within and outside the discipline. It usually requires a master's degree or more to secure a position with "sociologist" in the title. Sociology undergraduates work in an array of professional fields including business, education, government, law, media and public service. Some examples of job titles are consumer relations manager, public relations staffer, college placement worker, human rights officer, and resident planning aide.
Studying sociology opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to sociology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to sociology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 730,797 | 12.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Sociologists | 143,776 | 3.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of sociology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,618 |
| 4 years | $45,375 |
| 5 years | $52,385 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for sociology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers sociology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Sociologists | $74,866 |
With 1,060 different sociology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased sociology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in sociology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sociology, General | 31,211 |
| Applied/Public Sociology | 105 |
| Rural Sociology | 61 |
| Sociology, Other | 3 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 45,628 |
| Political Science and Government | 44,942 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,510 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 13,035 |
| Anthropology | 10,768 |
| Criminology | 10,365 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,105 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,942 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,343 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 496 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
