by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 81 schools on the early-career earnings of their sociology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose sociology graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in sociology, no school beat Fresno City College this year. Fresno City College is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Sociology graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of about $51,703 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $73,771 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Saint Marys College Of California earned it the #3 place for sociology. 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.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at Santa Clara University, which ranked #4. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Santa Clara University typically earn about $77,833 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at Whittier College, which ranked #5. Whittier College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Whittier. Early-career sociology graduates from Whittier College make a median of around $60,980 per year.
Sacramento City College landed the #6 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Sacramento City College make a median of around $50,848 per year.
University Of The Pacific earned the #7 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. Sociology graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of about $57,798 a year early in their careers.
California State University Bakersfield landed the #8 spot for sociology salaries this year. California State University Bakersfield is a public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Sociology graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $56,392 a year early in their careers.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a public school located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. Sociology graduates of Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earn a median of about $56,285 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #10 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Sociology graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $78,070 a year early in their careers.
Vanguard University Of Southern California landed the #11 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Vanguard University Of Southern California make a median of around $54,685 per year.
Chapman University landed the #12 spot for sociology salaries this year. Chapman University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,118.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #13 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Early-career sociology graduates from Santa Rosa Junior College make a median of around $49,932 per year.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus typically earn about $67,391 annually.
Occidental College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Occidental College earn a median of about $62,892 a year early in their careers.
National University earned the #16 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of National University earn a median of about $54,674 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $61,399 annually.
Mount St Marys College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Mount St Marys College earn a median of about $61,463 a year early in their careers.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Sociology graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $75,585 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California earned the #20 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of about $67,128 a year early in their careers.
Orange Coast College came in at #21 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Orange Coast College is a public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Early-career sociology graduates from Orange Coast College make a median of around $48,445 per year.
California State University East Bay earned the #22 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from California State University East Bay typically earn about $61,001 annually.
Loyola Marymount University came in at #23 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University typically earn about $65,669 annually.
Sonoma State University earned the #24 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Sonoma State University is a public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Sociology graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of about $62,652 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $64,677 annually.
These schools also send sociology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 81 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.