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. 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 9 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.
For graduate earnings in sociology, no school beat University Of Missouri Kansas City this year. Set 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 produces some of the highest-paid graduates in sociology, landing the #2 spot this year. Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Columbia College Missouri typically earn about $45,544 annually.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sociology schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the sociology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,854.
Missouri Southern State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in sociology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University typically earn about $39,774 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Missouri St Louis earned it the #5 place for sociology. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. Sociology graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of about $46,104 a year early in their careers.
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. Sociology graduates of Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies earn a median of about $39,909 a year early in their careers.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #7 position for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield typically earn about $43,970 annually.
University Of Central Missouri placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for sociology. University Of Central Missouri is a public school located in the town of Warrensburg. After graduating, sociology degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri typically earn about $45,562 annually.
Harris Stowe State University came in at #9 for sociology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Harris Stowe State University is a public institution. Early-career sociology graduates from Harris Stowe State University make a median of around $28,268 per year.
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 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.