by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. 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 69 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.
Leading the list is Depauw University, our #1 for sociology graduate salaries in the Great Lakes Region. Depauw University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Greencastle. Sociology graduates of Depauw University earn a median of about $71,581 a year early in their careers.
Bradley University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,571.
A rank of #3 makes Capital University one of the highest-paying schools for sociology. Capital University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbus. Sociology graduates of Capital University earn a median of about $59,531 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Notre Dame one of the highest-paying schools for sociology. University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Sociology graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of about $88,792 a year early in their careers.
Marquette University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in sociology, landing the #5 spot this year. Marquette University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,468.
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Illinois Wesleyan University typically earn about $52,988 annually.
Roosevelt University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Roosevelt University make a median of around $52,041 per year.
University Of Dayton landed the #8 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Dayton typically earn about $51,435 annually.
Western Illinois University landed the #9 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Western Illinois University typically earn about $50,480 annually.
Hanover College earned the #10 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Hanover College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Hanover College typically earn about $49,627 annually.
Miami University Oxford placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Miami University Oxford make a median of around $54,109 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #12 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Sociology graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $64,923 a year early in their careers.
Northwestern University came in at #13 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Northwestern University typically earn about $57,736 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #14 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $60,766 annually.
Michigan State University earned the #15 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $60,828 a year early in their careers.
John Carroll University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of John Carroll University earn a median of about $57,774 a year early in their careers.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career sociology graduates from Loyola University Chicago make a median of around $61,830 per year.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #18 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of Wisconsin River Falls make a median of around $44,595 per year.
Western Michigan University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Western Michigan University typically earn about $58,151 annually.
Mckendree University came in at #20 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Mckendree University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon. Sociology graduates of Mckendree University earn a median of about $49,911 a year early in their careers.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #21 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $52,440 a year early in their careers.
Ohio State University Mansfield Campus earned the #22 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, Ohio State University Mansfield Campus is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Ohio State University Mansfield Campus earn a median of about $52,440 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #23 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,040.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #24 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,650.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville make a median of around $55,821 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning sociology graduates:
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 · 69 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.