2023 Best Value Colleges for Sociology (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia
14
Ranked Colleges
937
Degrees Awarded
$13,900
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 38,475 people earned their degree in sociology, making the major the 25th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, sociology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $24,587 in loans still to pay off.
Across Virginia, there were 937 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,190 and $24,569 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in sociology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great sociology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the sociology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Sociology (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, William & Mary landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this medium-sized public school awarded 43 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
William & Mary not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $5,972 for Virginia Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William & Mary.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full William & Mary Sociology Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Virginia is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 83 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Virginia has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $12,476 for Virginia Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Sociology at University of Virginia
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. Virginia Tech is a large public school situated in Blacksburg, Virginia. It awarded 228 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Virginia Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $11,934 for Virginia Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Sociology at Virginia Tech
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Richmond landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution located in University of Richmond, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
URichmond not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Richmond is $8,010 for Virginia Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Sociology at URichmond
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Old Dominion University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Old Dominion is a large school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 97 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Old Dominion also took the #10 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Old Dominion University is $13,335 for virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Sociology at Old Dominion
James Madison University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. James Madison University is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 55 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
JMU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $14,288 for virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend JMU.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Sociology at JMU
With a ranking of #7, George Mason University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k list, GMU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for GMU is $14,781 for Virginia Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Sociology at GMU
Christopher Newport University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Newport News, Virginia, this small public school handed out 60 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k list, CNU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Christopher Newport University is $15,862 for virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Sociology at Christopher Newport University
Radford University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Radford, Virginia, this medium-sized public school handed out 18 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Radford, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $11,420 for virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Radford.
Full Radford University Sociology Report
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 84 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
VCU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $14,507 for virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend VCU.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Sociology at Virginia Commonwealth University
University of Mary Washington landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMW is a small school located in Fredericksburg, Virginia that handed out 35 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
UMW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $14,589 for Virginia Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Mary Washington.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Sociology at UMW
With a ranking of #12, Roanoke College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Salem, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 17 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
Roanoke not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $20,495 for virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Roanoke College.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Sociology at Roanoke College
Bridgewater College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bridgewater is a small school located in Bridgewater, Virginia that handed out 12 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Bridgewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $16,714 for virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bridgewater.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Sociology at Bridgewater College
Randolph - Macon College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Ashland, Virginia, and it awarded 17 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Randolph - Macon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Sociology Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $20,454 for virginia sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Randolph - Macon.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Randolph - Macon College Sociology Report
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Kontos.
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