by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 65 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying sociology schools.
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. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Fresno City College typically earn about $51,703 annually.
San Jose State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in sociology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located 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. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California typically earn about $70,004 annually.
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.
Whittier College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in sociology, landing the #5 spot this year. Whittier College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Whittier. Sociology graduates of Whittier College earn a median of about $60,980 a year early in their careers.
Sacramento City College earned the #6 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,848.
University Of The Pacific placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of The Pacific make a median of around $57,798 per year.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #8 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from California State University Bakersfield typically earn about $56,392 annually.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #9 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a public school located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,285.
University Of California Berkeley placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,070.
Vanguard University Of Southern California landed the #11 spot for sociology salaries this year. Vanguard University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Early-career sociology graduates from Vanguard University Of Southern California make a median of around $54,685 per year.
Chapman University earned the #12 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Chapman University earn a median of about $70,118 a year early in their careers.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #13 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College typically earn about $49,932 annually.
Occidental College came in at #14 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located 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 ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. National University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,674.
San Francisco State University earned the #16 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Sociology graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of about $61,399 a year early in their careers.
Mount St Marys College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set 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 earned the #18 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set 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 ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $67,128 annually.
Orange Coast College landed the #20 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of about $48,445 a year early in their careers.
California State University East Bay placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,001.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Sociology graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of about $65,669 a year early in their careers.
Sonoma State University came in at #23 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Sonoma State University typically earn about $62,652 annually.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #24 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $64,677 per year.
University Of San Francisco placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of San Francisco make a median of around $60,747 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid sociology ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries sociology graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 65 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.
