2027 Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Sociology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sociology programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 52 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for sociology students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Sociology in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the sociology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Sociology
No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year for sociology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Read more about the sociology program at University Of Chicago
A rank of #2 makes University Of Notre Dame one of the top schools for sociology. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. About 95% of students finish within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 42 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $35,915. Typical student debt for the program is $19,800.
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A rank of #3 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for sociology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 28 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $38,402 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,567.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2027 list of 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 129 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $33,832. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $18,568 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 95 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $35,889 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $17,802 in student loans.
See the full sociology program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #6 for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 179 sociology degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $36,826. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
See the full sociology program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Kenyon College earned the #7 position for sociology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Gambier. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Kenyon College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $37,976 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,114 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sociology from Kenyon College
Indiana University Bloomington placed #8 among the best sociology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 sociology degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $30,296 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,464 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago landed the #9 spot for sociology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 32 sociology degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $34,004 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sociology from Loyola University Chicago
Miami University Oxford landed the #10 spot for sociology this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 sociology degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $43,150 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500.
More information about a degree in sociology from Miami University Oxford
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #11 spot for sociology this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 49 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $31,548 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,154.
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Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #12 for sociology this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 85 sociology degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $38,034 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,739.
More information about a degree in sociology from Ohio State University Main Campus
Michigan State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 108 sociology degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Michigan State University earn around $35,055 in the first couple years of their career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,985 in student loans.
See the full sociology program report for Michigan State University
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #14 among the best sociology schools. This large public university is located in the town of Whitewater. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 27 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $41,152. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $26,125 in student loans.
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Saint Marys College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Saint Marys College graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys College in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Saint Marys College earn a median of $48,274 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,938.
More information about a degree in sociology from Saint Marys College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #16 among the best sociology schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $42,507 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #17 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 39 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $34,435. Students borrow a median of $19,315 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sociology program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
Case Western Reserve University came in at #18 for sociology this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 18 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $74,459 in their early career. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans.
See the full sociology program report for Case Western Reserve University
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh awarded about 27 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $50,590. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
John Carroll University placed #20 among the best sociology schools. Set in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 26 sociology degrees were awarded at John Carroll University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $36,845. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sociology from John Carroll University
Illinois State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 81 sociology degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Illinois State University earn around $33,636 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 90 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $36,506 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sociology from Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #23 position for sociology this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn around $33,529 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Depaul University placed #24 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $33,644 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sociology from Depaul University
Oberlin College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Oberlin. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 16 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Oberlin College in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $25,146 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,759.
See the full sociology program report for Oberlin College
Rest of the Top 50 Sociology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for sociology this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 52 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.