by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sociology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 112 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sociology students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sociology degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in sociology, no school beat College Of The Ozarks this year. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,360. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from College Of The Ozarks generally make around $37,944. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
Truman State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,838, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $23,168. Early-career sociology graduates make about $39,764. Set against $23,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Kansas City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $20,799. Early-career sociology graduates make about $36,810. Set against $20,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Missouri St Louis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $26,686. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $34,942. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Sociology graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $40,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
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Grinnell College came in at #6 for value in sociology this year. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,196 in tuition and fees. Sociology graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Grinnell College generally make around $28,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grinnell College admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #7 spot for sociology value this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $24,594 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $41,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #8 among the best values for sociology. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Sociology graduates carry a median of $20,377 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $38,972. That is a strong return on a $20,377 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Fort Hays State University placed #9 among the best values for sociology. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Sociology graduates carry a median of $33,482 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $38,075. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney placed #10 among the best values for sociology. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,564 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $46,744. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Bemidji State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,237 in tuition and fees. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,819 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $48,984. That is a strong return on a $25,819 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas came in at #12 for value in sociology this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Sociology graduates carry a median of $23,001 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $42,703. That is a strong return on a $23,001 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #13 for value in sociology this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $19,400. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $36,809. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Iowa State University came in at #14 for value in sociology this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Sociology graduates carry a median of $21,935 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $40,602. That is a strong return on a $21,935 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,191. Sociology graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $31,819 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,191 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Kansas State University came in at #16 for value in sociology this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,946 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $42,985. That is a strong return on a $25,946 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Emporia State University came in at #17 for value in sociology this year. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,419. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Emporia State University generally make around $29,313. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Emporia State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Lindenwood University placed #18 among the best values for sociology. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Sociology graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $48,197. That is a strong return on a $28,663 median debt. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
South Dakota State University came in at #19 for value in sociology this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $26,000. Early-career sociology graduates make about $40,236. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $22,500. Sociology graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $33,386 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota came in at #21 for value in sociology this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans. Sociology graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $64,378 early in their careers. Set against $25,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Iowa placed #22 among the best values for sociology. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $24,750. Sociology graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $57,375 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #23 spot for sociology value this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $17,553. Sociology graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
Wartburg College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Set in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,250. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $26,793. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Wartburg College generally make around $46,918. Set against $26,793 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Augsburg College landed the #25 spot for sociology value this year. Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $45,452 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of Augsburg College earn a median of $34,543 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s sociology value ranking:
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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 · 112 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.