2027 Best Sociology Schools in the The Plains States Region
Sociology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sociology programs.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best sociology schools.
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Best Schools for Sociology in the The Plains States 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
Washington University In St Louis tops our 2027 ranking of the best sociology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 17 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $68,303 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 66 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $38,972 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,377 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Grinnell College one of the top schools for sociology. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit university. Grinnell College graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Grinnell College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Grinnell College earn around $28,216 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the top schools for sociology. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $33,386. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Iowa came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 21 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Iowa earn around $57,375 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans.
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Wartburg College earned the #6 position for sociology this year. Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waverly. Wartburg College graduates 64% of students within six years. About 12 sociology degrees were awarded at Wartburg College in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Wartburg College earn around $46,918 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,793.
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University Of Kansas came in at #7 for sociology this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kansas awarded about 24 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $42,703. Students borrow a median of $23,001 to complete this degree.
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Iowa State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 sociology degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $40,602. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $21,935 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #9 position for sociology this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $36,810 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,799.
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Macalester College came in at #10 for sociology this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Macalester College graduates 87% of students within six years. About 17 sociology degrees were awarded at Macalester College in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Macalester College earn around $42,517 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,147.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #11 among the best sociology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $36,809 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,400.
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University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. University Of Nebraska At Kearney awarded about 12 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of $46,744 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete this degree.
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Truman State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Truman State University awarded about 11 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Truman State University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,168.
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Drake University earned the #14 position for sociology this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. Drake University awarded about 11 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
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Kansas State University earned the #15 position for sociology this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 30 sociology degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $42,985. Students borrow a median of $25,946 to complete this degree.
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Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #16 position for sociology this year. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $44,396 in their early career. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates carry a median of $26,197 in student loans.
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University Of North Dakota landed the #17 spot for sociology this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Dakota awarded about 15 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of North Dakota earn around $64,378 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Dakota graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans.
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Minnesota State University Mankato placed #18 among the best sociology schools. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $42,108 in their early career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Augsburg College landed the #19 spot for sociology this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Augsburg College graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Augsburg College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Augsburg College earn around $34,543 in the first couple years of their career. Augsburg College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Lindenwood University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Lindenwood University awarded about 13 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $48,197. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete this degree.
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Hamline University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hamline University awarded about 11 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Hamline University earn around $33,894 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. This large public university is located in the city of Omaha. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $40,871. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
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Missouri State University Springfield came in at #23 for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 20 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $31,819 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,191.
More information about a degree in sociology from Missouri State University Springfield
University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. University Of Missouri St Louis awarded about 15 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $34,942 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,686.
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Fort Hays State University landed the #25 spot for sociology this year. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. Fort Hays State University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Fort Hays State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $38,075 in their early career. Fort Hays State University graduates carry a median of $33,482 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 25 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.