2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Maryland

[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sociology students.
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2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Maryland
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Maryland College Park the best value for a degree in sociology in Maryland. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Sociology graduates carry a median of $20,460 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $34,150. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland Eastern Shore one of the best values for sociology. University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Princess Anne. Students from in state pay about $9,076 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,122. Sociology graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Maryland Eastern Shore generally make around $31,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Morgan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #3 spot this year. Morgan State University is a large public school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $8,229, while out-of-state students pay about $19,124. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,000. Sociology graduates of Morgan State University earn a median of $31,470 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at University Of Maryland Baltimore County, which ranked #4. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. Sociology graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Sociology graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $39,435 early in their careers. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Bowie State University one of the best values for sociology. Set in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,218, while out-of-state students pay about $19,938. Sociology graduates carry a median of $30,835 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Bowie State University generally make around $38,893. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Mcdaniel College landed the #6 spot for sociology value this year. Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Westminster. In-state tuition and fees average $52,081. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,000. Sociology graduates of Mcdaniel College earn a median of $37,728 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Goucher College earned the #7 position for value in sociology this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Goucher College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,350 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $43,670. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Goucher College admits about 78% of applicants.
Mount St Marys University landed the #8 spot for sociology value this year. Set in the rural area of Emmitsburg, Mount St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,630. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of Mount St Marys University earn a median of $40,196 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.