by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,051 U.S. colleges awarded 30,816 degrees and certificates in Sociology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. College Factual ranks 546 schools in its 2027 Best Sociology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,601 one year after completing, rising to $53,653 after four years.
Calling all social butterflies! We have the perfect major for you. Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. All about understanding "the big picture", this major provides a global perspective of how the social world works. Sociology is the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Instead of viewing the world from one lens, you will be asked to analyze the world from diverse perspectives.
Classroom instruction includes social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, and social deviance and control. You will also study specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
Students will integrate findings from economics, political science, psychology and history into Sociology studies. You will learn how businesses work from a human relations standpoint, how politics work through the study of social movements, how communities create culture, religion, and family, and how societies create opportunities and perpetuate inequalities.
Studying Sociology involves the study of Sociology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., sociology is a widely-pursued major, with 30,816 degrees awarded annually. 1,051 colleges award sociology degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 715.
By level, the 30,816 awards include 4,947 associate degrees, 23,984 bachelor’s degrees, 1,336 master’s degrees and 549 doctorates.
Women earned 75% of sociology degrees and certificates in the latest year (23,074 of 30,816). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (11,137) and Hispanic or Latino (9,920), and international students earned 1,063.
College Factual ranks 546 schools in its 2027 Best Sociology Schools ranking, including 111 for associate degrees, 430 for bachelor’s degrees, 26 for master’s degrees and 12 for doctorates. It also ranks sociology schools within 50 states. In all, 1,051 colleges offer sociology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Sociology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common sociology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 23,984 of the 30,816 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to sociology call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Law and Government, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
This major is for those who are curious about cultures and how they work. A cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of how other cultures work and interact is helpful to this field. This is especially true regarding racial, ethnic, and gender differences in approaches to work. You should strive to be free of traditional stereotypes and embrace a global perspective of the world.
Sociology deals with the big picture questions about how humans interact. It helps to be able to draw meaning from numbers and facts. You will need to be able to interpret group behavior to make assessments about the group dynamic. In addition to analyzing human behavior, other abilities needed for a career in sociology include communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a sociology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,947 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 23,984 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,336 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 549 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to sociology, at 36.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Sociology, with an average median salary of $96,887; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, Social Science Professor, Adjunct Instructor and Professor.
Those who graduate from this program find jobs both within and outside the discipline. It usually requires a master's degree or more to secure a position with "sociologist" in the title. Sociology undergraduates work in an array of professional fields including business, education, government, law, media and public service. Some examples of job titles are consumer relations manager, public relations staffer, college placement worker, human rights officer, and resident planning aide.
The occupation related to sociology with the most projected jobs is Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other, at 1,421,275.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 730,797 | 12.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Sociologists | 143,776 | 3.0% |
Sociology graduates earn a median $34,601 one year after completing their program, $53,653 after four years and $52,387 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,601 |
| 4 years | $53,653 |
| 5 years | $52,387 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to sociology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Sociologists | $74,866 |
Sociology includes 4 concentrations that together award 30,816 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Sociology, General (30,632), Applied/Public Sociology (126) and Rural Sociology (49). It has 13 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 157,380 degrees a year; the largest are Economics (48,196), Political Science and Government (45,425) and Social Sciences, General (17,558). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sociology, General | 30,632 |
| Applied/Public Sociology | 126 |
| Rural Sociology | 49 |
| Sociology, Other | 9 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 48,196 |
| Political Science and Government | 45,425 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,558 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 12,780 |
| Criminology | 10,920 |
| Anthropology | 10,836 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,459 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,820 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,300 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 574 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
