2026 Best Sociology Schools in Michigan
Sociology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 30 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 Michigan
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
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in sociology. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 135 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $33,832 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $18,568 in student loans.
Read more about the sociology program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Michigan State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #2 spot this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 121 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $35,055. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,985 in student loans.
Get the full sociology details for Michigan State University
Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at Hope College, which ranked #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Holland. About 80% of students finish within six years. Hope College awarded about 11 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Hope College earn a median of $29,181 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,488.
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Grand Valley State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. Grand Valley State University awarded about 11 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Grand Valley State University earn around $32,132 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sociology program at Grand Valley State University
A rank of #5 makes Wayne State University one of the top schools for sociology. This very large public university is located in the city of Detroit. About 58% of students finish within six years. Wayne State University awarded about 41 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $31,381. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $30,422 in student loans.
Read more about the sociology program at Wayne State University
Oakland University landed the #6 spot for sociology this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 12 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Oakland University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Oakland University earn around $20,126 in the first couple years of their career. Oakland University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology from Oakland University
Western Michigan University earned the #7 position for sociology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Western Michigan University earn around $35,399 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,585.
Read more about the sociology program at Western Michigan University
Northern Michigan University came in at #8 for sociology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Marquette. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 11 sociology degrees were awarded at Northern Michigan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $40,508. Northern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $23,060 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology from Northern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University placed #9 among the best sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Eastern Michigan University awarded about 11 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $29,919 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $35,155 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sociology program at Eastern Michigan University
Lake Michigan College came in at #10 for sociology this year. Located in the rural area of Benton Harbor, Lake Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. Lake Michigan College awarded about 10 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Lake Michigan College earn a median of $50,185 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,473 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sociology program at Lake Michigan College
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 30 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.