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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Sociology in California

10 Ranked Colleges
75 Degrees Awarded
$34,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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 California, there were 14,493 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,922 and $18,563 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 75 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking looked at 10 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in sociology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent sociology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the sociology program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Sociology Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california doctor’s degree sociology students.

Top 11 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Sociology in California

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #1 spot on the list. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 13 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also took the #3 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456.

Read full report on Sociology at UC Irvine

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 10 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree sociology students list, UCLA has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCLA Sociology Report

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also made our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - San Diego Sociology Report

#4

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670.

Read more about Sociology at University of California - Santa Barbara

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree sociology students list, UC Davis has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Sociology at University of California - Davis

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California list. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Sociology at UC Berkeley

#9 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Riverside Sociology Report

#8

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#10 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California list. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 4 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Sociology at University of California - Santa Cruz

#11 in overall quality

University of California - Merced landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. UC Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 2 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Sociology at UC Merced

#9

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Southern California Sociology Report

#10

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Stanford University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 6 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree sociology students list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011.

Read full report on Sociology at Stanford University

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.

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