Sociology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sociology programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 430 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for sociology students pursuing a degree.
No school ranked higher than Dartmouth College this year for sociology. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dartmouth College awarded about 37 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $64,377 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,250.
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A rank of #2 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for sociology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $40,079. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for sociology. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 20 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sociology, ranking #4. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 17 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes Santa Clara University one of the top schools for sociology. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 12 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $53,612. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
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Duke University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 36 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Duke University earn a median of $45,551 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
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Stanford University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 34 sociology degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Brown University landed the #8 spot for sociology this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 22 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
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Tufts University placed #9 among the best sociology schools. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $47,859 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley landed the #10 spot for sociology this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 236 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $40,774. Typical student debt for the program is $13,131.
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Washington University In St Louis came in at #11 for sociology this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 11 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
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Barnard College placed #12 among the best sociology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Barnard College awarded about 28 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $48,215 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,899 to complete this degree.
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University Of Notre Dame earned the #13 position for sociology this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 28 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $35,915. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,800 in student loans.
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Boston College came in at #14 for sociology this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 22 sociology degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $48,091. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University placed #15 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $38,402. Students borrow a median of $14,567 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #16 spot for sociology this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 661 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $34,372 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
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Colgate University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Colgate University earn around $51,788 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California came in at #18 for sociology this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 44 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $35,580 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,324 to complete this degree.
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Yale University earned the #19 position for sociology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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Wesleyan University placed #20 among the best sociology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wesleyan University awarded about 24 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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Bowdoin College landed the #21 spot for sociology this year. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Bowdoin College earn around $47,749 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #22 for sociology this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 147 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $40,062 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $19,286 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #23 position for sociology this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 672 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $34,121. Typical student debt for the program is $14,500.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #24 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 113 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $33,832 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $18,568 in student loans.
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Rice University landed the #25 spot for sociology this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 17 sociology degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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Rest of the Top 50 Sociology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong sociology education:
This ranking is produced 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 · 430 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
