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Best Sociology Programs 2026

Best sociology programs ranked by graduate salary. Compare schools for sociology and social science career outcomes.

12 programs ranked

$35,407 avg salary

10 public schools

View as table

Rank	Program	School	State	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Value Score	Break-Even
1	Sociology	Harvard University	MA	$58,277	$19,066/yr	91/100	2.9 yr
2	Sociology	University of California-Berkeley	CA	$42,238	$13,481/yr	80/100	4.8 yr
3	Sociology	University of Wisconsin-Madison	WI	$37,772	$16,928/yr	71/100	9.7 yr
4	Sociology	Wayne State University	MI	$36,556	$14,773/yr	65/100	10.2 yr
5	Sociology	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	VA	$35,639	$23,790/yr	44/100	18.3 yr
6	Sociology	Ohio State University-Main Campus	OH	$35,052	$18,292/yr	59/100	15.9 yr
7	Sociology	The University of Texas at Austin	TX	$33,171	$19,678/yr	46/100	27.2 yr
8	Sociology	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	NC	$30,367	$12,983/yr	54/100	155.4 yr
9	Sociology	University of Georgia	GA	$30,198	$13,816/yr	53/100	313.2 yr
10	Sociology	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	MI	$30,003	$13,138/yr	54/100	19886 yr
11	Sociology	Middlebury College	VT	$28,997	$25,934/yr	30/100	N/A
12	Sociology	University of Florida	FL	$26,610	$6,351/yr	54/100	N/A

Sociology

91/100

Harvard University · Cambridge, MA

$58,277 median salary$19,066/yr net cost2.9 yr break-even+94% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

80/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$42,238 median salary$13,481/yr net cost4.8 yr break-even+41% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

71/100Public

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI

$37,772 median salary$16,928/yr net cost9.7 yr break-even+26% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

65/100Public

Wayne State University · Detroit, MI

$36,556 median salary$14,773/yr net cost10.2 yr break-even+22% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

44/100Public

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA

$35,639 median salary$23,790/yr net cost18.3 yr break-even+19% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

59/100Public

Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH

$35,052 median salary$18,292/yr net cost15.9 yr break-even+17% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

46/100Public

The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX

$33,171 median salary$19,678/yr net cost27.2 yr break-even+11% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

54/100Public

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC

$30,367 median salary$12,983/yr net cost155.4 yr break-even+1% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

53/100Public

University of Georgia · Athens, GA

$30,198 median salary$13,816/yr net cost313.2 yr break-even+1% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

54/100Public

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$30,003 median salary$13,138/yr net cost19886 yr break-even+0% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

30/100

Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT

$28,997 median salary$25,934/yr net cost+-3% vs. HS diploma

Sociology

54/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$26,610 median salary$6,351/yr net cost+-11% vs. HS diploma

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Compare Schools Overall Rankings

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Programs are ranked by median earnings 1 year after completion. Data reflects bachelor's degree programs only.