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2024 Best Sociology Bachelor's Degree Schools

545 Colleges in the United States
29,576 Bachelor's Degrees
$31,081 Avg Early-Career Salary
Sociology is of the hottest bachelor's degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #19 most popular major in the country. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

College Factual looked at 545 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Sociology Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 29,576 bachelor's degrees in sociology to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Sociology School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Best Sociology Bachelor's Degree Schools Your choice of sociology for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:

Quality Overall Is Important

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Average Earnings

To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their bachelor's degree from the school. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their bachelor's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for sociology students working on their bachelor's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Sociology Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Sociology Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.


 

Best Schools for Bachelor’s Students to Study Sociology in the United States

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in sociology. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Bachelor's in Sociology

1
38 Annual Graduates

It is hard to beat University of Chicago if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in sociology. Located in the large city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of Chicago

2
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT
15 Annual Graduates

It is hard to beat Yale University if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in sociology. Located in the medium-sized city of New Haven, Yale is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Yale University

3
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Rice University
Houston, TX
35 Annual Graduates

Rice University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a bachelor's degree in sociology. Rice is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Houston.More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Rice University

4
356 Annual Graduates
$42,238 Median Starting Salary
$13,131 Median Student Debt

It's difficult to beat University of California - Berkeley if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in sociology. UC Berkeley is a very large public university located in the city of Berkeley.

Sociology bachelor's degree recipients from University of California - Berkeley receive an earnings boost of around $11,157 above the average income of sociology majors.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of California - Berkeley

5
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Located in the large city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.

Sociology bachelor's degree recipients from Duke University receive an earnings boost of about $29,276 above the typical earnings of sociology graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Duke University

6
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
23 Annual Graduates
$43,668 Median Starting Salary
$11,600 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

Sociology bachelor's degree recipients from University of Pennsylvania get an earnings boost of about $12,587 over the typical earnings of sociology majors.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of Pennsylvania

7
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

Princeton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Princeton.

Those sociology students who get their bachelor's degree from Princeton University receive $13,820 more than the standard sociology student.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Princeton University

8
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
47 Annual Graduates

Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Nashville.More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Vanderbilt University

9
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Cambridge.

Bachelor's recipients from the sociology degree program at Harvard University get $27,196 above the standard college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Harvard University

10
737 Annual Graduates
$32,675 Median Starting Salary
$14,500 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the sociology program earn around $32,675 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of California - Los Angeles

11
55 Annual Graduates
$53,374 Median Starting Salary
$31,000 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

Those sociology students who get their bachelor's degree from Columbia University in the City of New York make $22,293 more than the standard sociology grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Columbia University in the City of New York

12
33 Annual Graduates
$41,134 Median Starting Salary
$14,567 Median Student Debt

Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston.

Bachelor's recipients from the sociology program at Northwestern University earn $10,053 more than the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Northwestern University

13
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Stanford University
Stanford, CA
16 Annual Graduates

Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Stanford.More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Stanford University

14
61 Annual Graduates
$37,102 Median Starting Salary
$10,324 Median Student Debt

USC is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles.

Those sociology students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Southern California make $6,021 more than the average sociology grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of Southern California

15
41 Annual Graduates
$19,800 Median Student Debt

Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of Notre Dame

16
266 Annual Graduates
$35,950 Median Starting Salary
$19,286 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a very large student population.

Sociology bachelor's degree recipients from University of Washington - Seattle Campus receive an earnings boost of about $4,869 over the typical earnings of sociology graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

17
Dartmouth crest
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
31 Annual Graduates
$49,859 Median Starting Salary
$19,250 Median Student Debt

Dartmouth is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit college located in the town of Hanover.

Those sociology students who get their bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College earn $18,778 more than the average sociology grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Dartmouth College

18
115 Annual Graduates
$37,772 Median Starting Salary
$17,802 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the sociology program at University of Wisconsin - Madison get $6,691 above the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of Wisconsin - Madison

19
26 Annual Graduates

Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, WUSTL is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Washington University in St Louis

20
22 Annual Graduates

Johns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Baltimore.More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Johns Hopkins University

21
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY
54 Annual Graduates
$42,066 Median Starting Salary
$18,875 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

Sociology bachelor's degree recipients from New York University get an earnings boost of approximately $10,985 above the typical income of sociology graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from New York University

22
69 Annual Graduates
$32,205 Median Starting Salary
$11,900 Median Student Debt

Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Ithaca.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the sociology program state that they receive average early career income of $32,205.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Cornell University

23
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
56 Annual Graduates
$30,166 Median Starting Salary
$20,500 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the sociology program earn around $30,166 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from Emory University

24
77 Annual Graduates
$29,877 Median Starting Salary
$20,500 Median Student Debt

University of Virginia is a very large public university located in the small suburb of Charlottesville.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the sociology program make an average of $29,877 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of Virginia - Main Campus

25
264 Annual Graduates
$31,674 Median Starting Salary
$12,600 Median Student Debt

Located in the suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public university with a very large student population.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the sociology program state that they receive average early career income of $31,674.

More information about a bachelor’s in sociology from University of California - Davis

Rest of the Top 50 Best Sociology Bachelor's Degree Schools

26
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
27
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Georgetown University
Washington, DC
28
29
30
31
32

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34
35
36
37
38
39
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University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
40
41

42

43
44
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
45
46
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
46
Williams crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
47
Colgate crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
48
Amherst crest
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
49
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Remaining Award Winners

This section shows the remainder of the schools awarded a Best Sociology Bachelor's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 545 different United States sociology schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
50 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
51 Tufts University Medford, MA
52 University of Georgia Athens, GA
52 Pomona College Claremont, CA
53 San Jose State University San Jose, CA
54 University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA
55 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH
56 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC
57 Boston University Boston, MA
58 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
59 DePauw University Greencastle, IN
60 Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA
61 The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN
62 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL
63 University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Norman, OK
64 University of California - Riverside Riverside, CA
65 University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA
66 Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO
67 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
68 Wellesley College Wellesley, MA
69 Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME
70 University of Delaware Newark, DE
71 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL
72 Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA
73 George Washington University Washington, DC
74 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
75 William & Mary Williamsburg, VA
76 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
77 Barnard College New York, NY
78 Fordham University Bronx, NY
79 Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA
80 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA
81 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Sociology Bachelor's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
82 Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN
83 Iowa State University Ames, IA
84 California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA
85 Grinnell College Grinnell, IA
86 University of Oregon Eugene, OR
87 Providence College Providence, RI
88 Hunter College New York, NY
89 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
90 Middlebury College Middlebury, VT
91 California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA
92 Syracuse University Syracuse, NY
93 Villanova University Villanova, PA
94 University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO
95 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
96 Hamilton College Clinton, NY
97 Trinity College Hartford, CT
98 Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
99 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX
100 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
101 Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
102 University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE
103 California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA
104 University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
105 California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CA
106 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
107 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY
108 American University Washington, DC
109 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS

Sociology by Region

View the Best Sociology Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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One of 13 majors within the Social Sciences area of study, Sociology has other similar majors worth exploring.

Sociology Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Sociology 29,506
Applied/Public Sociology 40

Related Major Annual Graduates
Political Science & Government 43,812
Economics 39,397
International Relations & National Security 9,158
Anthropology 8,890
General Social Sciences 6,378
Geography & Cartography 4,409
Other Social Sciences 1,669
Urban Studies 1,051
Sociology & Anthropology 541
Archeology 201

Notes and References

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