Best Schools for Sociology in the United States
See the highest-ranked sociology schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in Sociology
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best school in the country for a degree in sociology. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 19 sociology degrees in the most recent data 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.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for sociology. 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. There were roughly 11 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $34,121 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,500.
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Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at George Mason University, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 12 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $38,916 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,514.
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A rank of #5 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for sociology. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 10 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $30,296 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,464 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton earned the #6 position for sociology this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. About 12 sociology degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $34,714 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,917 to complete this degree.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #7 among the best sociology schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 sociology degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $58,541. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
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Teachers College At Columbia University placed #8 among the best sociology schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 21 sociology degrees were awarded at Teachers College At Columbia University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Teachers College At Columbia University earn around $68,137 in the first couple years of their career.
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New York University came in at #9 for sociology this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 15 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from New York University earn around $22,697 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $18,875 in student loans.
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San Diego State University placed #10 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 sociology students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $35,136 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
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University Of Houston came in at #11 for sociology this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $30,723 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore County placed #12 among the best sociology schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Baltimore. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland Baltimore County in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $39,435. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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Oklahoma City University came in at #13 for sociology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Oklahoma City. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 10 sociology degrees were awarded at Oklahoma City University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Oklahoma City University generally make around $58,379. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete this degree.
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Texas Tech University placed #14 among the best sociology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $32,207 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center earned the #15 position for sociology this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny Graduate School And University Center awarded about 13 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921.
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Ball State University landed the #16 spot for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $32,973 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,198.
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Arizona State University Skysong came in at #17 for sociology this year. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. About 67 sociology degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $53,321 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
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University Of Arkansas landed the #18 spot for sociology this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arkansas awarded about 10 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $33,566 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,225 to complete this degree.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #19 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates 66% of students within six years. About 11 sociology degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $27,846 in their early career. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates carry a median of $24,959 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #20 among the best sociology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. About 13 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $29,220 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,125.
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Depaul University came in at #21 for sociology this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 68% of students finish within six years. Depaul University awarded about 10 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $33,644. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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Southern Connecticut State University landed the #22 spot for sociology this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Southern Connecticut State University awarded about 10 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Southern Connecticut State University earn around $32,013 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University Los Angeles earned the #23 position for sociology this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 sociology students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $50,577 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
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American Public University System placed #24 among the best sociology schools. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. American Public University System awarded about 29 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $47,633 early in their careers. American Public University System graduates carry a median of $29,278 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #25 for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Antonio. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At San Antonio awarded about 11 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn around $53,131 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,490 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 34 Sociology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for sociology this year:
Other Sociology Degree Levels
Explore the best sociology schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 1161 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.