2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Pennsylvania
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 63 schools to find the best return on investment for sociology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in Pennsylvania
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
For return on investment in sociology, no school beat Delaware County Community College this year. Located in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,930, with out-of-state students paying around $15,540. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $11,500. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $40,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for sociology. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of East Stroudsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,236, while out-of-state students pay about $19,202. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $35,932. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Pennsylvania Western University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,436, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,295. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,000. Sociology graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $32,323 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #5 makes Millersville University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for sociology. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $22,952. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Millersville University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $34,883. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Westminster College Pa earned the #6 position for value in sociology this year. Westminster College Pa is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Wilmington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,290. Sociology graduates carry a median of $26,528 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Westminster College Pa generally make around $41,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for value in sociology this year. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,206, with out-of-state students paying around $16,330. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $34,490. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania placed #8 among the best values for sociology. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, while out-of-state students pay about $15,824. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,250. Sociology graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $46,912 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Temple University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $33,427. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $30,274. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Gettysburg College placed #11 among the best values for sociology. Located in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,640. Sociology graduates carry a median of $22,747 in student loans. Sociology graduates of Gettysburg College earn a median of $36,396 early in their careers. Set against $22,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,500. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,000. Sociology graduates of Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn a median of $26,583 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary admits about 54% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in sociology this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Duquesne University came in at #14 for value in sociology this year. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $48,986 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $29,661. Set against $26,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Josephs University came in at #15 for value in sociology this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,260. Sociology graduates carry a median of $26,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Saint Josephs University generally make around $65,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Bryn Mawr College landed the #16 spot for sociology value this year. Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. Students from in state pay about $65,920 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $23,069. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Bryn Mawr College generally make around $35,668. That is a strong return on a $23,069 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
View All Sociology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 63 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
