by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 10 U.S. colleges awarded 126 degrees and certificates in Applied/Public Sociology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 77% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Applied/Public 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.
A degree in Applied/Public Sociology covers A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Sociological Theory, Methods, Skills, And Research To Resolve Particular Issues In Real-World Settings. Includes Instruction In Data Collection, Group And Organizational Dynamics, Participatory Action Research, Program Evaluation, Sociological Research Methods, And Sociological Theory.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, applied/public sociology is a widely-pursued major, with 126 degrees awarded annually. 10 colleges award applied/public sociology degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 44.
By level, the 126 awards include 97 bachelor’s degrees and 29 master’s degrees.
Women earned 80% of applied/public sociology degrees and certificates in the latest year (101 of 126). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (68) and Hispanic or Latino (24), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Applied/Public Sociology Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks applied/public sociology schools within 2 states. In all, 10 colleges offer applied/public sociology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Applied/Public Sociology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common applied/public sociology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 97 of the 126 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to applied/public 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an applied/public sociology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 97 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 29 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to applied/public sociology, at 37.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.1% |
| Master’s degree | 16.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.9% |
| Some college courses | 2.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Applied/Public Sociology, with an average median salary of $101,814; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Sociology Adjunct Professor, Sociology Professor, Sociology Lecturer and Comparative Sociology Professor.
The occupation related to applied/public sociology with the most projected jobs is Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary, at 730,797.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
Applied/Public 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 applied/public 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 |
Applied/Public Sociology has 3 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 30,690 degrees a year; the largest are Sociology, General (30,632), Rural Sociology (49) and Sociology, Other (9). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sociology, General | 30,632 |
| Rural Sociology | 49 |
| Sociology, Other | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
