by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a sociology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where sociology graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send sociology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Harvard University the top school for sociology graduate earnings in the United States. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Harvard University typically earn about $89,947 annually.
Villanova University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,088.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at San Jose State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,771.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of about $93,017 a year early in their careers.
Depauw University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in sociology, landing the #5 spot this year. Depauw University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Greencastle. Early-career sociology graduates from Depauw University make a median of around $71,581 per year.
Saint Marys College Of California came in at #6 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. Early-career sociology graduates from Saint Marys College Of California make a median of around $70,004 per year.
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #7 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Tulane University Of Louisiana make a median of around $69,636 per year.
Rice University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Sociology graduates of Rice University earn a median of about $68,737 a year early in their careers.
Dartmouth College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,367.
University Of Miami came in at #10 for sociology graduate earnings this year. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of Miami make a median of around $67,034 per year.
Catholic University Of America came in at #11 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Catholic University Of America make a median of around $66,324 per year.
Bucknell University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Bucknell University make a median of around $66,041 per year.
University Of Richmond came in at #13 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,809.
College Of William And Mary placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. Sociology graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of about $65,242 a year early in their careers.
George Washington University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from George Washington University typically earn about $64,513 annually.
Wagner College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of Staten Island, Wagner College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,199.
Santa Clara University earned the #17 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Early-career sociology graduates from Santa Clara University make a median of around $77,833 per year.
Quinnipiac University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Quinnipiac University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. Early-career sociology graduates from Quinnipiac University make a median of around $62,896 per year.
Texas Lutheran University earned the #19 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Seguin, Texas Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Texas Lutheran University make a median of around $62,245 per year.
Boston College earned the #20 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Boston College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Boston College typically earn about $83,459 annually.
Texas Christian University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Texas Christian University make a median of around $61,785 per year.
Bradley University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Bradley University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Bradley University typically earn about $61,571 annually.
Seton Hall University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Seton Hall University typically earn about $61,124 annually.
Whittier College landed the #24 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Whittier, Whittier College is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Whittier College earn a median of about $60,980 a year early in their careers.
Capital University landed the #25 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Capital University make a median of around $59,531 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid sociology ranking:
The following schools rounded out the strongest sociology earnings:
These schools earned honorable mentions for sociology graduate pay:
Explore the highest-paying sociology schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their sociology graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.