2027 Best Value Sociology Schools in Pennsylvania
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sociology students.
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2027 Best Value Sociology Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sociology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sociology Schools
Our analysis ranked Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania the best value for a degree in sociology in Pennsylvania. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,046 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870. Students borrow a median of $29,119 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $37,461. That is a strong return on a $29,119 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #2 makes Delaware County Community College one of the best values for sociology. Located in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,930, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $40,102. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned it the #3 place for sociology. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Sociology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sociology graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $32,323 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania Western University one of the best values for sociology. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Sociology graduates carry a median of $28,263 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $32,325. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Cheyney University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Cheyney, Cheyney University Of Pennsylvania is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,904, compared with $18,870 for out-of-state students. Early-career sociology graduates make about $28,128.
Albright College earned the #6 position for value in sociology this year. Albright College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading. In-state tuition and fees average $29,082. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,500. Early-career sociology graduates make about $24,310. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania placed #7 among the best values for sociology. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $22,952. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $34,883. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for value in sociology this year. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,206, compared with $16,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $28,000. Early-career sociology graduates make about $34,490. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #9 among the best values for sociology. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,775, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,258 ten years after entry. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania admits about 78% of applicants.
Temple University came in at #10 for value in sociology this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of Temple University earn a median of $33,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #11 for value in sociology this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,000. Sociology graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $30,274 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Gettysburg College landed the #12 spot for sociology value this year. Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gettysburg. In-state tuition and fees average $66,640. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $22,747. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Gettysburg College generally make around $36,396. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Bryn Mawr College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,920. Sociology graduates carry a median of $23,069 in student loans. Sociology graduates of Bryn Mawr College earn a median of $35,668 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,069 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for sociology value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Sociology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Sociology graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,016 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Lehigh University placed #15 among the best values for sociology. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Sociology graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans. Sociology graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,008 median debt. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $48,986 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of Duquesne University earn a median of $29,661 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
