2027 Best Value Sociology Schools in North Carolina
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sociology students.
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2027 Best Value Sociology Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sociology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sociology Schools
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #1 spot for value among sociology schools in North Carolina. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Students borrow a median of $14,925 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $30,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Pembroke one of the best values for sociology. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,648, while out-of-state students pay about $7,648. Students borrow a median of $28,526 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $34,051. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the best values for sociology. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $25,988 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $27,400 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at Fayetteville State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,353, compared with $8,353 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $31,888. Sociology graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $33,544 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fayetteville State University admits about 82% of applicants.
North Carolina A And T State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Sociology graduates carry a median of $33,540 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $24,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville placed #6 among the best values for sociology. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,501, compared with $24,849 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $18,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Asheville admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #7 among the best values for sociology. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $26,798. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $31,897. That is a strong return on a $26,798 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
East Carolina University earned the #8 position for value in sociology this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Sociology graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $31,928 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #9 among the best values for sociology. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,787 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $35,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Winston Salem State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,782. Students borrow a median of $27,653 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $43,969. Set against $27,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University came in at #11 for value in sociology this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,606 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $31,559. Set against $20,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #12 among the best values for sociology. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $24,125. Sociology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $29,220 early in their careers. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University landed the #13 spot for sociology value this year. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. Sociology graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $46,257. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University came in at #14 for value in sociology this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Sociology graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Sociology graduates of Duke University earn a median of $45,551 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Elon University came in at #15 for value in sociology this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,958. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of Elon University earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
