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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 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.
Bowdoin College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid sociology graduates in Maine. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Bowdoin College typically earn about $47,749 annually.
Bates College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Bates College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lewiston. Sociology graduates of Bates College earn a median of about $42,170 a year early in their careers.
University Of Maine came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Maine typically earn about $30,283 annually.
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 · 3 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.