2027 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Sociology & Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology-and-anthropology/) 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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for sociology & anthropology students.
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2027 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sociology & anthropology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools
Leading the list is Cuny College Of Staten Island, our #1 best value for sociology & anthropology in the United States. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $15,180 in student loans. Early-career sociology & anthropology graduates make about $34,139. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga one of the best values for sociology & anthropology. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Students borrow a median of $23,324 to complete the sociology & anthropology program here. Early-career sociology & anthropology graduates make about $50,000. That is a strong return on a $23,324 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Valdosta State University one of the best values for sociology & anthropology. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $37,249 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $30,802. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #4 makes Wofford College one of the best values for sociology & anthropology. Located in the city of Spartanburg, Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,005. Students borrow a median of $24,643 to complete the sociology & anthropology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Wofford College generally make around $41,052. That is a strong return on a $24,643 median debt. Wofford College admits about 52% of applicants.
Centre College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology & anthropology schools. Centre College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Danville. In-state tuition and fees average $52,820. Typical student debt for sociology & anthropology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Centre College generally make around $29,054. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Centre College admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #6 spot for sociology & anthropology value this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sociology & anthropology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $34,388. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Warren Wilson College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology & anthropology schools. Set in the rural area of Swannanoa, Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,500. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,260. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Swarthmore College placed #8 among the best values for sociology & anthropology. Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Swarthmore. Students from in state pay about $65,494 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sociology & anthropology graduates is $19,500. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Swarthmore College earn a median of $66,971 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Washington And Lee University landed the #9 spot for sociology & anthropology value this year. Set in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,045 in tuition and fees. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $20,074 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Washington And Lee University generally make around $76,810. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
St Olaf College came in at #10 for value in sociology & anthropology this year. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,760 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sociology & anthropology graduates is $24,644. Early-career sociology & anthropology graduates make about $40,848. Set against $24,644 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Carleton College earned the #11 position for value in sociology & anthropology this year. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,892 in tuition and fees. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Carleton College earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. Set against $17,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carleton College admits about 20% of applicants.
Knox College earned the #12 position for value in sociology & anthropology this year. Set in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,903. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Knox College earn a median of $26,350 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Knox College admits about 71% of applicants.
Saint Michaels College earned the #13 position for value in sociology & anthropology this year. Saint Michaels College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Colchester. In-state tuition and fees average $51,450. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $26,640 in student loans. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Saint Michaels College earn a median of $42,240 early in their careers. Set against $26,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Forest College came in at #14 for value in sociology & anthropology this year. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. In-state tuition and fees average $56,402. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans. Early-career sociology & anthropology graduates make about $41,168. That is a strong return on a $26,661 median debt. Lake Forest College admits about 57% of applicants.
Lafayette College earned the #15 position for value in sociology & anthropology this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,648. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $17,549 in student loans. Early-career sociology & anthropology graduates make about $43,321. That is a strong return on a $17,549 median debt. Lafayette College admits about 31% of applicants.
Lewis And Clark College earned the #16 position for value in sociology & anthropology this year. Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $64,828. Typical student debt for sociology & anthropology graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Lewis And Clark College generally make around $24,098. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Puget Sound came in at #17 for value in sociology & anthropology this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,898. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $24,924 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from University Of Puget Sound generally make around $19,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Puget Sound admits about 72% of applicants.
Other Sociology & Anthropology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value sociology & anthropology schools at other degree levels:
View All Sociology & Anthropology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
