2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Ohio
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 49 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value sociology schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sociology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sociology Schools
Sinclair Community College earned the #1 spot for value among sociology schools in Ohio. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Cleveland State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,575 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $34,490 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,575 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Sociology graduates carry a median of $21,739 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $38,034. That is a strong return on a $21,739 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Wittenberg University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Springfield, Wittenberg University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,940. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,000. Sociology graduates of Wittenberg University earn a median of $40,093 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Kent State University At Kent, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $29,183. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #6 for value in sociology this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $36,506. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in sociology this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $31,484. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford earned the #8 position for value in sociology this year. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $43,150 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
John Carroll University landed the #9 spot for sociology value this year. Located in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,500. Sociology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sociology graduates of John Carroll University earn a median of $36,845 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. John Carroll University admits about 81% of applicants.
Oberlin College earned the #10 position for value in sociology this year. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,366. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $25,146. Set against $24,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oberlin College admits about 34% of applicants.
View All Sociology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 49 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
