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. The highest-paying schools turn a sociology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying sociology schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send sociology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in sociology, no school beat Bradley University this year. Located 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.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University make a median of around $52,988 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Roosevelt University earned it the #3 place for sociology. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,041.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at Western Illinois University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,480.
A rank of #5 makes Northwestern University one of the highest-paying schools for sociology. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Early-career sociology graduates from Northwestern University make a median of around $57,736 per year.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #6 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,830.
Mckendree University landed the #7 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Mckendree University make a median of around $49,911 per year.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. 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 came in at #9 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville typically earn about $55,821 annually.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #10 spot for sociology salaries this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. Sociology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $61,548 a year early in their careers.
Chicago State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Chicago State University is a public school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career sociology graduates from Chicago State University make a median of around $44,616 per year.
Depaul University came in at #12 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Depaul University make a median of around $58,090 per year.
Illinois State University landed the #13 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of about $54,799 a year early in their careers.
Saint Xavier University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career sociology graduates from Saint Xavier University make a median of around $51,583 per year.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of Illinois At Chicago make a median of around $52,284 per year.
Northern Illinois University came in at #16 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Northern Illinois University is a public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Sociology graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of about $49,637 a year early in their careers.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #17 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University typically earn about $46,230 annually.
Dominican University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Dominican University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Sociology graduates of Dominican University earn a median of about $51,989 a year early in their careers.
North Central College earned the #19 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from North Central College typically earn about $50,634 annually.
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 · 19 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.