by our College Data Analytics TeamSociology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 111 schools to find the best for sociology students.
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Below are the best sociology schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Leading the list is De Anza College, our #1 school for sociology. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. About 38 sociology degrees were awarded at De Anza College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271. More information about a degree in sociology from De Anza College
Diablo Valley College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sociology, ranking #2. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 31 sociology degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete this degree. Read more about the sociology program at Diablo Valley College
College Of San Mateo came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. This large public university is located in the city of San Mateo. There were roughly 16 sociology students who graduated with this degree at College Of San Mateo in the most recent data year. College Of San Mateo graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. More information about a degree in sociology from College Of San Mateo
Orange Coast College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Orange Coast College awarded about 33 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $46,306 in their early career. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Get the full sociology details for Orange Coast College
A rank of #5 makes Ohlone Community College one of the top schools for sociology. Located in the city of Fremont, Ohlone Community College is a large public university. About 28 sociology degrees were awarded at Ohlone Community College in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Ohlone Community College earn a median of $22,545 early in their careers. Ohlone Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Read more about the sociology program at Ohlone Community College
College Of The Canyons came in at #6 for sociology this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. There were roughly 46 sociology students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Canyons in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,750. Read more about the sociology program at College Of The Canyons
West Valley College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. West Valley College awarded about 27 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $25,378 in their early career. West Valley College graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. See the full sociology program report for West Valley College
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #8 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 45 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692. Read more about the sociology program at Santa Rosa Junior College
Cerritos College came in at #9 for sociology this year. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. About 93 sociology degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Cerritos College graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. See the full sociology program report for Cerritos College
Foothill College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. Foothill College awarded about 31 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $94,152 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,595. More information about a degree in sociology from Foothill College
East Los Angeles College placed #11 among the best sociology schools. East Los Angeles College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park. East Los Angeles College awarded about 96 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from East Los Angeles College earn around $33,595 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete this degree. Get the full sociology details for East Los Angeles College
Fresno City College came in at #12 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 49 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Fresno City College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Fresno City College earn around $37,470 in the first couple years of their career. Fresno City College graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Read more about the sociology program at Fresno City College
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earned the #13 position for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 19 sociology degrees were awarded at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $16,893. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Read more about the sociology program at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
Mission College earned the #14 position for sociology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Clara. About 27 sociology degrees were awarded at Mission College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $17,223 to complete this degree. Read more about the sociology program at Mission College
Cosumnes River College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Cosumnes River College is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Cosumnes River College awarded about 43 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Cosumnes River College earn around $19,699 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. See the full sociology program report for Cosumnes River College
Merritt College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the city of Oakland, Merritt College is a large public university. Merritt College awarded about 10 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Merritt College graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Get the full sociology details for Merritt College
American River College earned the #17 position for sociology this year. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. About 35 sociology degrees were awarded at American River College in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,105. Get the full sociology details for American River College
Santa Barbara City College earned the #18 position for sociology this year. Located in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public university. About 81 sociology degrees were awarded at Santa Barbara City College in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Santa Barbara City College earn around $68,184 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,090. Get the full sociology details for Santa Barbara City College
Santa Ana College placed #19 among the best sociology schools. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. There were roughly 46 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Santa Ana College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete this degree. Get the full sociology details for Santa Ana College
Santa Monica College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Monica. Santa Monica College graduates 81% of students within six years. Santa Monica College awarded about 93 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the sociology program at Santa Monica College
Modesto Junior College landed the #21 spot for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Modesto. About 60 sociology degrees were awarded at Modesto Junior College in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $36,525 in their early career. Modesto Junior College graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans. Get the full sociology details for Modesto Junior College
Cypress College came in at #22 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 47 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Cypress College in the most recent data year. Read more about the sociology program at Cypress College
Cuesta College earned the #23 position for sociology this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. About 23 sociology degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958. See the full sociology program report for Cuesta College
Oxnard College landed the #24 spot for sociology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Oxnard. Oxnard College awarded about 46 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. See the full sociology program report for Oxnard College
Mt San Antonio College placed #25 among the best sociology schools. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. About 192 sociology degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $44,391 in their early career. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Read more about the sociology program at Mt San Antonio College
These schools also placed among the best for sociology this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Sociology rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 111 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.