Sociology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1161 schools to find the best for sociology students.
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Choosing a Great Sociology School
The school you choose for sociology can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Sociology rankings. For our Best Overall Sociology School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Sociology Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Tufts University, our #1 school for sociology. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Tufts University earn around $47,859 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
See the full sociology program report for Tufts University
Vanderbilt University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 sociology degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
Get the full sociology details for Vanderbilt University
Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sociology, ranking #3. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 25 sociology degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $40,079 early in their careers. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology from Georgetown University
Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students within six years. About 33 sociology degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $64,377 in their early career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans.
Get the full sociology details for Dartmouth College
University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 39 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology from University Of Chicago
Harvard University placed #6 among the best sociology schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
See the full sociology program report for Harvard University
Santa Clara University came in at #7 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $53,612 in their early career. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
Read more about the sociology program at Santa Clara University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for sociology this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 75 sociology degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
See the full sociology program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of California Berkeley came in at #9 for sociology this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 275 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $40,774. Typical student debt for the program is $13,131.
See the full sociology program report for University Of California Berkeley
Brown University landed the #10 spot for sociology this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 49 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sociology from Brown University
Duke University earned the #11 position for sociology this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 35 sociology degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Duke University earn around $45,551 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
See the full sociology program report for Duke University
Stanford University landed the #12 spot for sociology this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full sociology program report for Stanford University
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #13 position for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 100 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $35,889 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,802 to complete this degree.
See the full sociology program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #14 among the best sociology schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 170 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $40,062 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,286.
Read more about the sociology program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Boston College earned the #15 position for sociology this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston College awarded about 33 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $48,091. Boston College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
See the full sociology program report for Boston College
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #16 position for sociology this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. About 616 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $34,372. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sociology program at University Of California Santa Barbara
Yale University placed #17 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
Get the full sociology details for Yale University
Barnard College placed #18 among the best sociology schools. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 23 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Barnard College earn around $48,215 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,899 to complete this degree.
Get the full sociology details for Barnard College
University Of Notre Dame landed the #19 spot for sociology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $35,915 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,800 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sociology from University Of Notre Dame
Bowdoin College came in at #20 for sociology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Brunswick. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 15 sociology degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $47,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sociology program at Bowdoin College
University Of Southern California placed #21 among the best sociology schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 49 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $35,580 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,324.
Read more about the sociology program at University Of Southern California
Colgate University came in at #22 for sociology this year. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $51,788. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
Read more about the sociology program at Colgate University
Wesleyan University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. About 93% of students finish within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 22 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
More information about a degree in sociology from Wesleyan University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #24 position for sociology this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 135 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $33,832 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $18,568 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Bates College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lewiston. Bates College graduates 90% of students within six years. About 18 sociology degrees were awarded at Bates College in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Bates College earn a median of $42,170 early in their careers. Bates College graduates carry a median of $12,610 in student loans.
Get the full sociology details for Bates College
Rest of the Top 50 Sociology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong sociology education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1161 schools evaluated.
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).
