2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Sociology in the Great Lakes Region
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 the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2019-2020, 37,807 people earned their degree in sociology, making the major the 24th most popular in the United States. 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 the Great Lakes region, there were 3,239 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,473 and $25,310 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 114 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,428 and $121,375 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 21 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in sociology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality sociology programs that also have a lower cost than 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.
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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 Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region doctor’s degree sociology students.
Top 21 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Sociology in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 16 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s sociology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
BGSU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823.
Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Sociology Report
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola University Chicago landed the #3 spot on the list. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Loyola Chicago, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola University Chicago are $19,154.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Akron Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s sociology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree sociology students list, University of Akron Main Campus has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217.
Read full report on Sociology at University of Akron Main Campus
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified doctorate’s sociology students in 2019-2020.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Sociology at Purdue University - Main Campus
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s sociology degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree sociology students list, UIUC has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s sociology students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree sociology students list, UWM has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Kent State University at Kent landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kent State is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 4 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.
Kent State also made our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified doctorate’s sociology students in 2019-2020.
UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644.
Western Michigan University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Western Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 3 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree sociology students list, WMU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WMU are $31,355, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Sociology at Western Michigan University
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s sociology degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.
Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 3 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928.
With a ranking of #15, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 7 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.
Wayne State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s sociology degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
Wayne State also made our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.
With a ranking of #18, Case Western Reserve University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Case Western Reserve University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 2 doctorate’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.
Case Western also took the #9 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western Reserve University are $47,958, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Sociology at Case Western Reserve University
University of Notre Dame landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s sociology degrees to qualified students.
Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522.
Northwestern University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 6 degrees to qualified doctorate’s sociology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree sociology students list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.
University of Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s sociology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Sociology Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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Best Sociology Doctor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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Sociology students with family income $48-$75k in the Great Lakes Region
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Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Sociology in the Great Lakes Region
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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
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.
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- Credit for the banner image above goes to Kontos.
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