by our College Data Analytics TeamSociology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sociology programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1159 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for sociology students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
The school you choose for sociology can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Sociology Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Sociology School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Sociology Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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.
Leading the list is Tufts University, our #1 school for sociology. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 29 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $47,859 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. More information about a degree in sociology from Tufts University
Vanderbilt University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 21 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. More information about a degree in sociology from Vanderbilt University
Georgetown University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgetown University awarded about 25 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $40,079 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,266. More information about a degree in sociology from Georgetown University
Dartmouth College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #4 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 33 sociology degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $64,377 in their early career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Get the full sociology details for Dartmouth College
University Of Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854. Read more about the sociology program at University Of Chicago
Harvard University landed the #6 spot for sociology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 53 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. See the full sociology program report for Harvard University
Santa Clara University came in at #7 for sociology this year. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Santa Clara University awarded about 14 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Santa Clara University earn around $53,612 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans. Read more about the sociology program at Santa Clara University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 75 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in sociology from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of California Berkeley landed the #9 spot for sociology this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 275 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $40,774. Typical student debt for the program is $13,131. See the full sociology program report for University Of California Berkeley
Brown University earned the #10 position for sociology this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 49 sociology degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. More information about a degree in sociology from Brown University
Duke University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 35 sociology degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $45,551. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree. Read more about the sociology program at Duke University
Stanford University placed #12 among the best sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 51 sociology degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree. See the full sociology program report for Stanford University
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #13 among the best sociology schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 87 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $35,889 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,802 to complete this degree. Read more about the sociology program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #14 position for sociology this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 170 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $40,062. Students borrow a median of $19,286 to complete this degree. Read more about the sociology program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Boston College came in at #15 for sociology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. Boston College awarded about 33 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $48,091 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in sociology from Boston College
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #16 spot for sociology this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 616 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $34,372 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500. Get the full sociology details for University Of California Santa Barbara
Yale University placed #17 among the best sociology schools. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357. More information about a degree in sociology from Yale University
Barnard College earned the #18 position for sociology this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 23 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $48,215. Students borrow a median of $15,899 to complete this degree. Read more about the sociology program at Barnard College
University Of Notre Dame landed the #19 spot for sociology this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 34 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $35,915. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,800 in student loans. See the full sociology program report for University Of Notre Dame
Bowdoin College came in at #20 for sociology this year. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bowdoin College graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 sociology students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $47,749 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,658. Read more about the sociology program at Bowdoin College
University Of Southern California landed the #21 spot for sociology this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 49 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Southern California earn around $35,580 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,324 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in sociology from University Of Southern California
Colgate University came in at #22 for sociology this year. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. Colgate University awarded about 28 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $51,788. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree. Read more about the sociology program at Colgate University
Wesleyan University placed #23 among the best sociology schools. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 22 sociology degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree. Read more about the sociology program at Wesleyan University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #24 spot for sociology this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 135 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $33,832 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,568. Get the full sociology details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Bates College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Bates College awarded about 18 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Bates College generally make around $42,170. Bates College graduates carry a median of $12,610 in student loans. Read more about the sociology program at Bates College
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s sociology ranking:
The following schools placed in the top tier for sociology:
These schools earned honorable mentions for sociology:
View the Best Sociology Schools for a specific region near you.
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Sociology is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1159 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.