by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their sociology graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 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.
Our analysis ranked Tulane University Of Louisiana the top school for sociology graduate earnings in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana typically earn about $69,636 annually.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Miami one of the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,034.
Students chasing top earnings in sociology will find them at University Of Richmond, which ranked #3. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of about $65,809 a year early in their careers.
College Of William And Mary came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from College Of William And Mary typically earn about $65,242 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Duke University earned it the #5 place for sociology. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Duke University make a median of around $75,020 per year.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Sociology graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $68,316 a year early in their careers.
Wake Forest University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Wake Forest University make a median of around $62,340 per year.
American Public University System earned the #8 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. American Public University System is a private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Early-career sociology graduates from American Public University System make a median of around $55,096 per year.
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #9 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Florida Gulf Coast University make a median of around $47,328 per year.
Flagler College St Augustine ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Augustine, Flagler College St Augustine is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Flagler College St Augustine earn a median of about $47,217 a year early in their careers.
George Mason University came in at #11 for sociology graduate earnings this year. George Mason University is a public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Sociology graduates of George Mason University earn a median of about $58,321 a year early in their careers.
Emory And Henry College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the rural area of Emory, Emory And Henry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,072.
Southern University And A And M College earned the #13 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,709.
Christopher Newport University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,418.
Jacksonville University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Jacksonville University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jacksonville. Sociology graduates of Jacksonville University earn a median of about $45,143 a year early in their careers.
Albany State University came in at #16 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Albany, Albany State University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Albany State University typically earn about $44,916 annually.
Fairmont State University earned the #17 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Fairmont, Fairmont State University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Fairmont State University typically earn about $44,585 annually.
University Of Mary Washington landed the #18 spot for sociology salaries this year. University Of Mary Washington is a public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of Mary Washington make a median of around $58,027 per year.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #19 spot for sociology salaries this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University make a median of around $53,098 per year.
Emory University landed the #20 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,354.
Old Dominion University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Old Dominion University make a median of around $52,363 per year.
Saint Leo University landed the #22 spot for sociology salaries this year. Set in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Saint Leo University make a median of around $49,759 per year.
Randolph Macon College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Randolph Macon College earn a median of about $48,640 a year early in their careers.
Radford University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Radford University make a median of around $43,018 per year.
Clemson University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Clemson University make a median of around $52,266 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning sociology graduates:
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.