by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a sociology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 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 University Of Iowa this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Iowa typically earn about $58,319 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Dubuque earned it the #2 place for sociology. Set in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Dubuque typically earn about $58,258 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Simpson College one of the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,392.
Strong graduate earnings at Gustavus Adolphus College earned it the #4 place for sociology. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College make a median of around $50,049 per year.
Saint Ambrose University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of about $49,847 a year early in their careers.
University Of Kansas placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. University Of Kansas is a public school located in the city of Lawrence. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of Kansas make a median of around $60,399 per year.
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead typically earn about $56,526 annually.
Iowa State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Iowa State University typically earn about $57,753 annually.
Kansas State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Kansas State University typically earn about $53,046 annually.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of about $53,226 a year early in their careers.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #11 for sociology graduate earnings this year. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public school located in the city of Omaha. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,523.
Winona State University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a public institution. Sociology graduates of Winona State University earn a median of about $46,926 a year early in their careers.
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #13 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,306.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Sociology graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of about $52,443 a year early in their careers.
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Fargo. Early-career sociology graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus make a median of around $48,327 per year.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,358.
South Dakota State University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,610.
Fort Hays State University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Fort Hays State University typically earn about $47,473 annually.
Black Hills State University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Black Hills State University make a median of around $41,764 per year.
Central College earned the #20 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Central College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Pella. Early-career sociology graduates from Central College make a median of around $47,227 per year.
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #21 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from University Of Missouri Kansas City make a median of around $47,082 per year.
Columbia College Missouri came in at #22 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,544.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia typically earn about $51,854 annually.
Hamline University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Hamline University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Hamline University typically earn about $49,733 annually.
Grinnell College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Grinnell. Early-career sociology graduates from Grinnell College make a median of around $57,657 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid sociology ranking:
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 · 35 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.
