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2024 Best Sociology Master's Degree Schools in California

19 Colleges in California
200 Master's Degrees
Sociology is above average in terms of popularity with it being the #119 most popular master's degree program in the country. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools in California to determine which ones were the best for sociology students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 200 master's degrees in sociology to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Sociology School for Your Master's Degree

Best Sociology Master's Degree Schools in California Your choice of sociology for getting your master's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality sociology program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:

Quality Overall Is Important

The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we consider a school's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of different 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 master's degree.

More Ways to Rank Sociology Schools

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Sociology Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The sociology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Sociology Master's Degree Schools in California.

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Sociology in California

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

10 Top California Schools for a Master's in Sociology

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

It's difficult to beat Stanford University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in sociology. Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in sociology from Stanford University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
7 Annual Graduates

It is difficult to beat University of California - Berkeley if you want to pursue a master'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 master’s in sociology from University of California - Berkeley

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
19 Annual Graduates

University of California - Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in sociology. UCLA is a fairly large public university located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in sociology from University of California - Los Angeles

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
9 Annual Graduates

University of California - Davis is a great decision for students interested in a master's degree in sociology. UC Davis is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Davis.More information about a master’s in sociology from University of California - Davis

5
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
9 Annual Graduates

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

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in sociology from University of California - San Diego

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
6 Annual Graduates

UCSB is a fairly large public university located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara.More information about a master’s in sociology from University of California - Santa Barbara

8
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
8 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in sociology from San Diego State University

9
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
4 Annual Graduates

UCR is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Riverside.More information about a master’s in sociology from University of California - Riverside

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
6 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in sociology from University of California - Santa Cruz

Best Sociology Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Sociology Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Washington 402 6
Oregon 291 7
Nevada 126 5
Hawaii 110 1

View All Rankings >

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

Notes and References

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