2026 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Sociology & Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology-and-anthropology/sociology-and-anthropology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sociology & anthropology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sociology & anthropology students.
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2026 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sociology & anthropology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools
Cuny College Of Staten Island tops our 2026 list of the best value sociology & anthropology schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,490 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $15,180 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $34,139. That is a strong return on a $15,180 median debt. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in sociology & anthropology will find it at Swarthmore College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,494. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the sociology & anthropology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $66,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
A rank of #3 makes Pace University New York one of the best values for sociology & anthropology. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,510 in tuition and fees. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $25,670 in student loans. Early-career sociology & anthropology graduates make about $59,662. Set against $25,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Lafayette College one of the best values for sociology & anthropology. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,648. Typical student debt for sociology & anthropology graduates is $17,549. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $43,321 early in their careers. Set against $17,549 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lafayette College admits about 31% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
