[Rural Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/rural-sociology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for rural sociology students.
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Finding the Best Value Rural Sociology School for You
The right rural sociology school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Rural Sociology Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Rural Sociology Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best value for a degree in rural sociology in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $17,802 to complete the rural sociology program here. Soon after graduation, rural sociology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $35,889. Set against $17,802 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College earned it the #2 place for rural sociology. Located in the town of Tifton, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,268, with out-of-state students paying around $10,588. Students borrow a median of $22,368 to complete the rural sociology program here. Early-career rural sociology graduates make about $46,038. Set against $22,368 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value rural sociology schools. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Rural Sociology graduates carry a median of $19,400 in student loans. Early-career rural sociology graduates make about $36,809. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Oregon State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in rural sociology, landing the #4 spot this year. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Rural Sociology graduates carry a median of $21,882 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rural sociology degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $39,193. Set against $21,882 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Auburn University earned it the #5 place for rural sociology. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the rural sociology program here. Early-career rural sociology graduates make about $55,422. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Cornell University landed the #6 spot for rural sociology value this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Typical student debt for rural sociology graduates is $11,900. Rural Sociology graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $36,709 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,900 median debt. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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).
[Rural Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/rural-sociology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
