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2025 Best Sociology Doctor's Degree Schools

15 Colleges in the United States
602 Doctor's Degrees
Sociology is of the hottest doctor's degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #46 most popular major in the country. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 15 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Sociology Doctor's Degree Schools ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 602 doctor's degrees in sociology to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Sociology School for Your Doctor's Degree

Best Sociology Doctor's Degree Schools The sociology doctor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality sociology program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for sociology students working on their doctor's degree.

More Ways to Rank Sociology Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Sociology Doctor's Degree Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

Best Schools for Doctorate Students to Study Sociology in the United States

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for sociology students seeking a a doctor's degree.

10 Top Schools for a Doctorate in Sociology

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
10 Annual Graduates

Any student pursuing a degree in a doctor's degree in sociology has to look into Stanford University. Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in sociology from Stanford University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
13 Annual Graduates

It's hard to beat University of Chicago if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in sociology. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Chicago.More information about a doctorate in sociology from University of Chicago

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
13 Annual Graduates

Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a doctor's degree in sociology. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in sociology from Northwestern University

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
14 Annual Graduates

University of California - Berkeley is a good choice for students interested in a doctor's degree in sociology. Located in the midsize city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in sociology from University of California - Berkeley

5
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
15 Annual Graduates

UCLA is a fairly large public university located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a doctorate in sociology from University of California - Los Angeles

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
12 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in sociology from Cornell University

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
14 Annual Graduates

UW - Madison is a very large public university located in the city of Madison.More information about a doctorate in sociology from University of Wisconsin - Madison

8
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
10 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in sociology from Princeton University

9
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
15 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in sociology from University of California - Irvine

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
13 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in sociology from Ohio State University - Main Campus

Sociology by Region

View the Best Sociology Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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Sociology is one of 3 different types of Sociology programs to choose from.

Notes and References

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