2027 Best Value Sociology Schools in Ohio
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value sociology schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Sociology Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sociology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sociology Schools
Cleveland State University earned the #1 spot for value among sociology schools in Ohio. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,575. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $34,490. That is a strong return on a $25,575 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for sociology. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $21,739 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $38,034 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,739 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,000. Early-career sociology graduates make about $29,183. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for sociology. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $36,506. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Ohio Wesleyan University one of the best values for sociology. Located in the suburb of Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,248. Students borrow a median of $26,868 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $31,531. Set against $26,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
The College Of Wooster placed #6 among the best values for sociology. The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wooster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,640. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from The College Of Wooster generally make around $32,462. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $31,484. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #8 for value in sociology this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Sociology graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $42,507. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Miami University Oxford ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Sociology graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Sociology graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $43,150 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #10 for value in sociology this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,832 in tuition and fees. Sociology graduates carry a median of $27,937 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $46,668. That is a strong return on a $27,937 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
John Carroll University came in at #11 for value in sociology this year. Located in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,500. Sociology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $36,845. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. John Carroll University admits about 81% of applicants.
Kenyon College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Set in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,520. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $18,114. Sociology graduates of Kenyon College earn a median of $37,976 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Oberlin College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,366. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Oberlin College generally make around $25,146. Set against $24,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University placed #14 among the best values for sociology. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $66,608 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,106. Early-career sociology graduates make about $74,459. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
View All Sociology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
