by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a sociology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying sociology schools.
What’s on this page:
Where you study sociology affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Sociology Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose sociology degrees pay off the most.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Sociology Graduates list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
If you want to know which schools send sociology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Fresno City College the top school for sociology graduate earnings in the United States. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Fresno City College typically earn about $51,703 annually.
Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Harvard University earn a median of about $89,947 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Villanova University earned it the #3 place for sociology. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Sociology graduates of Villanova University earn a median of about $81,088 a year early in their careers.
San Jose State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,771.
Strong graduate earnings at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #5 place for sociology. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $93,017 annually.
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Depauw University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Depauw University make a median of around $71,581 per year.
Saint Marys College Of California placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,004.
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Tulane University Of Louisiana make a median of around $69,636 per year.
Rice University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Rice University make a median of around $68,737 per year.
Dartmouth College landed the #10 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,367.
University Of Miami placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of about $67,034 a year early in their careers.
Catholic University Of America came in at #12 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Catholic University Of America typically earn about $66,324 annually.
Bucknell University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Bucknell University typically earn about $66,041 annually.
University Of Richmond landed the #14 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of Richmond make a median of around $65,809 per year.
College Of William And Mary ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from College Of William And Mary make a median of around $65,242 per year.
George Washington University came in at #16 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from George Washington University make a median of around $64,513 per year.
Wagner College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Staten Island, Wagner College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Wagner College typically earn about $64,199 annually.
Santa Clara University came in at #18 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of about $77,833 a year early in their careers.
Quinnipiac University earned the #19 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Quinnipiac University make a median of around $62,896 per year.
Texas Lutheran University came in at #20 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Seguin, Texas Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,245.
Boston College landed the #21 spot for sociology salaries this year. Boston College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Sociology graduates of Boston College earn a median of about $83,459 a year early in their careers.
Texas Christian University landed the #22 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of about $61,785 a year early in their careers.
Bradley University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Bradley University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Early-career sociology graduates from Bradley University make a median of around $61,571 per year.
Seton Hall University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of about $61,124 a year early in their careers.
Whittier College landed the #25 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Whittier, Whittier College is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Whittier College earn a median of about $60,980 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid sociology ranking:
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The following schools rounded out the strongest sociology earnings:
Also worth considering for earnings in sociology:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their sociology graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.