Sociology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 232 schools to find the best for sociology students.
No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year for sociology. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 21 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $77,997 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
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Duke University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. About 35 sociology degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Duke University earn a median of $45,551 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for sociology. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 60 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $30,623 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,925 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 64 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $45,786 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 28 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $46,257 early in their careers. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #6 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 33 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Tulane University Of Louisiana earn around $54,082 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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College Of William And Mary placed #7 among the best sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 36 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,338. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #8 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 170 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $38,768 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete this degree.
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Emory University landed the #9 spot for sociology this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 sociology degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $30,516. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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James Madison University came in at #10 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. James Madison University awarded about 54 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $31,513. Students borrow a median of $19,168 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida awarded about 106 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Florida earn around $33,611 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,929 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #12 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 71 sociology students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $35,510. Typical student debt for the program is $22,787.
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University Of Miami earned the #13 position for sociology this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $57,234 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,250.
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University Of Georgia placed #14 among the best sociology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 80 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $32,530. Typical student debt for the program is $20,625.
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George Mason University earned the #15 position for sociology this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 49 sociology degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $38,916 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,514.
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Florida State University placed #16 among the best sociology schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 97 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $33,783 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,164.
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The University Of Tennessee landed the #17 spot for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 87 sociology students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $35,723 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,013.
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Christopher Newport University came in at #18 for sociology this year. Located in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 48 sociology degrees were awarded at Christopher Newport University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Christopher Newport University generally make around $36,977. Students borrow a median of $25,548 to complete this degree.
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Auburn University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Auburn University awarded about 24 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $35,378 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University earned the #20 position for sociology this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 87 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $36,320 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,125.
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University Of Mary Washington came in at #21 for sociology this year. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. University Of Mary Washington graduates 66% of students within six years. About 18 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $35,499 early in their careers. University Of Mary Washington graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
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Bridgewater College came in at #22 for sociology this year. Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Bridgewater College graduates 53% of students within six years. About 10 sociology degrees were awarded at Bridgewater College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Bridgewater College generally make around $38,344. Students borrow a median of $26,423 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Commonwealth University placed #23 among the best sociology schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 66 sociology degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $32,781 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,285 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida Online ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida Online awarded about 29 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $33,611 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,929 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #25 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates 77% of students within six years. About 50 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $33,516 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,721 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Sociology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for sociology this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 232 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).
