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.
College Factual analyzed 100 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.
Villanova University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Villanova University earn a median of about $81,088 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #2 place for sociology. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $93,017 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Catholic University Of America earned it the #3 place for sociology. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,324.
Bucknell University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in sociology, landing the #4 spot this year. 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.
George Washington University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from George Washington University make a median of around $64,513 per year.
Wagner College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of Staten Island, Wagner College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Wagner College typically earn about $64,199 annually.
Seton Hall University landed the #7 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of about $61,124 a year early in their careers.
St Marys College Of Maryland placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the rural area of St. Mary's City, St Marys College Of Maryland is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from St Marys College Of Maryland make a median of around $59,320 per year.
Barnard College came in at #9 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Barnard College make a median of around $75,086 per year.
St Lawrence University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. St Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Canton. Early-career sociology graduates from St Lawrence University make a median of around $57,039 per year.
Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #11 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of about $56,783 a year early in their careers.
Saint John Fisher College came in at #12 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Saint John Fisher College earn a median of about $55,539 a year early in their careers.
The College Of New Jersey ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. The College Of New Jersey is a public school located in the suburb of Ewing. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,732.
Hartwick College earned the #14 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Oneonta, Hartwick College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,129.
Syracuse University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of about $72,358 a year early in their careers.
Colgate University came in at #16 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,788.
Teachers College At Columbia University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of New York, Teachers College At Columbia University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Teachers College At Columbia University make a median of around $68,137 per year.
Thiel College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the town of Greenville, Thiel College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Thiel College typically earn about $50,822 annually.
Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the suburb of Utica, Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome typically earn about $50,382 annually.
Kings College earned the #20 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Kings College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Kings College make a median of around $52,876 per year.
Le Moyne College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Le Moyne College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Early-career sociology graduates from Le Moyne College make a median of around $49,942 per year.
Westminster College Pa earned the #22 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of New Wilmington, Westminster College Pa is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Westminster College Pa make a median of around $49,276 per year.
American University came in at #23 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from American University make a median of around $62,954 per year.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County landed the #24 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of Maryland Baltimore County make a median of around $62,279 per year.
Cornell University came in at #25 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Cornell University earn a median of about $65,655 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send sociology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.
