2026 Best Sociology & Anthropology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Sociology & Anthropology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sociology & anthropology programs.

College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best sociology & anthropology schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Sociology & Anthropology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Best Schools for Sociology & Anthropology in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the sociology & anthropology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Sociology & Anthropology

1

Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL

Associate's Degree Highest Degree Type

20 Sociology & Anthropology Degrees Awarded

$41,168 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked Lake Forest College the best school in the country for a degree in sociology & anthropology. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 sociology & anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Lake Forest College in the most recent data year. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Lake Forest College earn a median of $41,168 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,661 to complete this degree. See the full sociology & anthropology program report for Lake Forest College

2

Knox College
Galesburg, IL

Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type

12 Sociology & Anthropology Degrees Awarded

$26,350 Median Starting Salary

Knox College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sociology & anthropology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 sociology & anthropology students who graduated with this degree at Knox College in the most recent data year. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Knox College earn a median of $26,350 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full sociology & anthropology program report for Knox College

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.