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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 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.
For graduate earnings in sociology, no school beat Harvard University this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Harvard University typically earn about $89,947 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at Boston College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,459.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at Clark University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Clark University make a median of around $55,998 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at Brandeis University, which ranked #4. Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Brandeis University typically earn about $63,066 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Boston University earned it the #5 place for sociology. Boston University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Boston University typically earn about $71,736 annually.
Curry College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the suburb of Milton, Curry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Curry College earn a median of about $51,674 a year early in their careers.
College Of The Holy Cross placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of College Of The Holy Cross earn a median of about $68,340 a year early in their careers.
Northeastern University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,603.
Tufts University landed the #9 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,859.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #10 for sociology graduate earnings this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public school located in the city of Boston. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston typically earn about $55,944 annually.
Salem State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Salem State University make a median of around $55,337 per year.
Suffolk University earned the #12 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of about $57,937 a year early in their careers.
Stonehill College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Stonehill College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Early-career sociology graduates from Stonehill College make a median of around $60,844 per year.
Framingham State University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of about $56,071 a year early in their careers.
Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts earned the #15 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of North Adams, Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts earn a median of about $47,673 a year early in their careers.
Worcester State University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,599.
Bridgewater State University came in at #17 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of about $48,932 a year early in their careers.
Mount Holyoke College landed the #18 spot for sociology salaries this year. Mount Holyoke College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. Sociology graduates of Mount Holyoke College earn a median of about $40,675 a year early in their careers.
Smith College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,634.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public school located in the city of Amherst. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of Massachusetts Amherst make a median of around $53,702 per year.
Assumption College landed the #21 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Assumption College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Assumption College typically earn about $37,279 annually.
Wheaton College Massachusetts placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Norton. Sociology graduates of Wheaton College Massachusetts earn a median of about $29,953 a year early in their careers.
Gordon College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Gordon College earn a median of about $18,487 a year early in their careers.
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 · 23 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.