Sociology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sociology programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1161 schools to find the best for sociology students.
Tufts University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in sociology. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Tufts University earn around $47,859 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $77,997 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
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Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 sociology degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $40,079. Typical student debt for the program is $13,266.
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Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Dartmouth College awarded about 33 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $64,377. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at University Of Chicago, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 24 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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Harvard University earned the #6 position for sociology this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Harvard University awarded about 39 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Brown University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $62,820 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
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Santa Clara University came in at #8 for sociology this year. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 14 sociology degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Santa Clara University earn around $53,612 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 63 sociology degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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University Of California Berkeley landed the #10 spot for sociology this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 252 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $40,774 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,131 to complete this degree.
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Duke University placed #11 among the best sociology schools. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. About 97% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Duke University earn a median of $45,551 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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Stanford University placed #12 among the best sociology schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #13 spot for sociology this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 158 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $40,062 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,286 to complete this degree.
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Boston College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 26 sociology degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $48,091 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #15 spot for sociology this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. About 605 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $34,372 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
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Yale University came in at #16 for sociology this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 20 sociology degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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Barnard College earned the #17 position for sociology this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Barnard College awarded about 23 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $48,215. Typical student debt for the program is $15,899.
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University Of Notre Dame came in at #18 for sociology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 25 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $35,915. Typical student debt for the program is $19,800.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #19 position for sociology this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 76 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $35,889. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $17,802 in student loans.
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Bowdoin College came in at #20 for sociology this year. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Bowdoin College graduates 95% of students within six years. About 15 sociology degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $47,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California earned the #21 position for sociology this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 49 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $35,580. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $10,324 in student loans.
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Colgate University landed the #22 spot for sociology this year. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Colgate University earn around $51,788 in the first couple years of their career. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
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Wesleyan University came in at #23 for sociology this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 22 sociology degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #24 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 105 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $33,832 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,568.
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Bates College came in at #25 for sociology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lewiston. Bates College graduates 90% of students within six years. About 18 sociology degrees were awarded at Bates College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Bates College generally make around $42,170. Bates College graduates carry a median of $12,610 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Sociology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for sociology this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1161 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).
