Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia

20 Ranked Colleges
921 Degrees Awarded
$21,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor's in Virginia

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Sociology is the 24th most popular major in the country with 37,807 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, sociology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,727 and had an average of $23,622 in loans still to pay off.

Across Virginia, there were 961 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,300 and $24,234 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 921 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia” ranking, we looked at 20 colleges that offer a degree in sociology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great sociology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the sociology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia” list to help you make the college decision.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Sociology in Virginia

#1

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia. This large school is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 187 bachelors’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $21,198 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Virginia Tech Sociology Report

#2

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Christopher Newport University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia. CNU is located in Newport News, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 75 bachelors’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

CNU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Christopher Newport University is $25,596 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Sociology students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 CNU Sociology Report

#3

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. This large school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 86 bachelors’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia is $20,397 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Sociology students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Sociology at University of Virginia

#4

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend George Mason University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s sociology degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

GMU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for George Mason University is $21,048 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Sociology students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Sociology at George Mason University

#5

University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Mary Washington. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia. Located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, this small public school handed out 46 degrees to qualified bachelors’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

UMW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMW is $21,907 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 UMW

#6

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #6, James Madison University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, this large public school handed out 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

JMU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $22,169 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students per year to attend JMU.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full James Madison University Sociology Report

#7

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, Virginia

With a ranking of #7, Old Dominion University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, this large public school awarded 83 degrees to qualified bachelors’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

Old Dominion also took the #14 spot in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Old Dominion University is $16,493 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Sociology students.

Read full report on Sociology at Old Dominion

#8

Longwood University

Farmville, Virginia

With a ranking of #8, Longwood University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Longwood University is a small school located in Farmville, Virginia that handed out 42 bachelors’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Longwood also took the #11 spot in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Longwood is $19,462 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students.

Full Longwood University Sociology Report

#9

Radford University

Radford, Virginia

Radford University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Radford is located in Radford, Virginia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students list, Radford has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $16,447 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students per year to attend Radford.

Read full report on Sociology at Radford University

#10

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #10. Virginia Commonwealth University is a large public school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 70 bachelors’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

VCU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for VCU is $22,021 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 Virginia Commonwealth University

#11

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #11, William & Mary did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. William & Mary is a medium-sized school located in Williamsburg, Virginia that handed out 31 bachelors’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

William & Mary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for William & Mary is $19,800 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 William & Mary

#12

Virginia State University

Petersburg, Virginia

Virginia State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. This small school is located in Petersburg, Virginia, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Virginia State, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia State University is $16,970 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Sociology students.

Full Virginia State Sociology Report

#13

Emory and Henry College

Emory, Virginia

Emory and Henry College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Emory & Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Emory, Virginia. It awarded 13 bachelors’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Emory & Henry College also made our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $18,593 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students per year to attend Emory & Henry College.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Sociology at Emory and Henry College

#14

Marymount University

Arlington, Virginia
#16 in overall quality

Marymount University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Arlington, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s sociology degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

Marymount did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Marymount University is $26,078 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Sociology students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Sociology at Marymount University

#15

Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, Virginia

With a ranking of #15, Bridgewater College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Bridgewater, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s sociology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater also took the #15 spot in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bridgewater is $17,929 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students.

Full Bridgewater Sociology Report

#16

Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Wesleyan University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Virginia Wesleyan University is a small school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 2 bachelors’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

VWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $23,425 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Sociology students per year to attend Virginia Wesleyan University.

Read full report on Sociology at Virginia Wesleyan University

#17

Randolph - Macon College

Ashland, Virginia

Randolph - Macon College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Randolph - Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ashland, Virginia. It awarded 18 bachelors’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Randolph - Macon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $26,370 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students per year to attend Randolph - Macon College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.

Read more about Sociology at Randolph - Macon

#18

University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg, Virginia
#19 in overall quality

University of Lynchburg did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s sociology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Lynchburg did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $23,207 for virginia bachelor’s degree sociology students per year to attend University of Lynchburg.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full University of Lynchburg Sociology Report

#19

Roanoke College

Salem, Virginia

Roanoke College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Salem, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s sociology degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

Roanoke not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Roanoke College is $25,135 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Sociology students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Roanoke College Sociology Report

#20

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, Virginia
#5 in overall quality

University of Richmond did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #20. University of Richmond is located in University of Richmond, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

URichmond also took the #5 spot in our “Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $25,838 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Sociology students per year to attend University of Richmond.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full URichmond Sociology Report

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

Footnotes

  • *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.

Featured Political and Social Sciences Schools

Find Schools Near You