Best Colleges and Universities for Sociology Degrees 2025

Badge for BEST FOR SOCIOLOGY COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski

Updated: Oct 23, 2024

The best sociology degree programs are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best sociology degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding sociology faculty.

Key Takeaways

Sociology is a discipline that covers diverse topics involving the study of the relationship between human beings and their surroundings.
Sociology students are taught to understand how human beings and their activities and consciousness shape and are shaped by surrounding cultural and social systems.
Undergraduate and graduate degrees in sociology cover sociological research methods, such as using statistics, conducting in-depth interviews, analyzing the language used in media articles, and evaluating different settings where interactions exist.

Table of Contents

Best Colleges and Universities for Sociology Degrees in 2025

Harvard University
University of California, Berkeley
+2
Columbia University
–1
University of Chicago
–1
Yale University
Wesleyan University
Amherst College
+3
Swarthmore College
–1
University of Missouri
+2
Wellesley College
–2

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best colleges and universities for sociology degrees saw a large amount of movement. Amherst College gained the most ranking positions as the college expanded its course offerings in areas such as race, inequality, and social justice, reflecting current social movements and global challenges.

Additionally, Amherst has increased opportunities for experiential learning, including partnerships with local organizations and nonprofits, allowing sociology students to engage in community-based research and internships. The program has also integrated more data analysis and research methods courses, equipping students with the tools to conduct rigorous sociological research, which is increasingly valuable in both academic and professional settings.

Featured Programs

The Best Colleges and Universities for Sociology Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Sociology Degree

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Sociology

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $10,651
Avg. Expenses*: $17,673
Avg. Starting Salary*: $33,930
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $43,052
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 12 years
Job Growth: 5.74%
Number of Jobs: 1,339,400
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Managers, All Other	5.75%	$133,560
Sociologists	9.09%	$101,770
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary	3.11%	$82,670
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other	2.46%	$77,750
Social Science Research Assistants	6.40%	$56,400

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Managers, All Other	$133,560
Sociologists	$101,770
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary	$82,670
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other	$77,750
Social Science Research Assistants	$56,400

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Best Sociology Schools in Your State

Learn More About Sociology

If you want to know more about sociology, then check out our related content:

Learn how to major in sociology
Think about your next step and what you can do with a master’s degree in sociology
Learn more about sociology from our interviews with influential sociologists
Find out who are the most influential sociologists today

A bachelor’s degree in sociology is an excellent starting point for a career in public service, policy development, activism and a host of other socially conscious fields. The sociology degree centers on how systems like families, groups, and communities intersect. Sociology also concerns the way human beings relate to one another over matters of religion, culture, race, gender, and more. Sociology students will learn how to conduct research, study populations, and understand how these populations are impacted by factors like geography, race, economics, and more. The best schools for sociology are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of sociology concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Sociology: A Valuable Degree Program

Sociology is a diverse and vast field, and different jobs require different educational requirements. Some positions only require a bachelor’s degree, while some demand applicants to have a graduate degree.

Given the wide variety of sociology programs available, it’s crucial to comprehend the distinctions between degree levels in sociology before applying.

Fortunately, the majority of the best colleges and universities for sociology degrees provide on-campus and online degree programs. Online degree programs have helped working students dedicate the necessary time to a sociology degree without having to leave their current positions.

Degree Levels in Sociology

Associate Degree in Sociology

Students who want to test the waters before committing to a four-year college or university can begin by obtaining an associate degree in sociology. This degree level is a two-year post-secondary option that covers a variety of basic sociological concepts. Graduates of an associate’s degree program in sociology have access to a wide range of employment prospects.

It is an appropriate, less expensive alternative with the possibility for profitable work placements within several fields of sociology, even though it is not as in-depth as a four-year degree in sociology.

Basic Requirements:

Proof of graduation from a high school, such as a high school diploma or GED.
Transcripts from previous levels of education.
Proficiency in the English language

Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology

Bachelor’s degree programs in sociology open up several career opportunities in different industries involving sociology. Undergraduate students are often allowed to customize their degree programs by choosing a concentration.

The most common concentrations in this degree level include:

class, race, and ethnicity
social change
political and social movements
criminal justice
gender and sexuality
social stratification
culture
globalization
economics
medicine
organizations
urban sociology

Bachelor’s degrees in sociology typically require students to complete 120 credits or 40 courses in at least two years. Many factors affect the duration of a bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate students need to consider whether they can attend full- or part-time classes.

There are two types of undergraduate degrees in sociology: bachelor of science (BS) and bachelor of arts (BA). Compared to BA degrees, BS in sociology programs emphasize research theories and methodology, focusing on data gathering and analysis.

BA in sociology programs adopt a more multidisciplinary approach and place a greater emphasis on the liberal arts.

Bachelor’s degrees that are often intertwined with sociology are political science and social science.

Basic requirements:

A minimum GPA of 2.0 to 3.0.
SAT and ACTs
GRE scores

Master’s Degree in Sociology

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in sociology or its closely-related fields, students planning to enter upper-level positions are encouraged, often required, to obtain a master’s degree in sociology. This degree level equips students with advanced skills and knowledge in quantitative methods, ethnographic research, and global perspectives.

A master’s degree in sociology requires students to complete 30 to 45 credits and can last up to two years of full-time study. A thesis requirement could make it take longer to finish. Enrolling part-time will take you longer to graduate.

Basic Requirements:

Bachelor’s in sociology or any closely-related field
Minimum 3.0 GPA
Two to three letters of recommendation
GRE scores

A few of the best schools to obtain a master’s degree are the University of California Berkeley, Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Duke University, Northwestern University, and the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, among others.

Doctoral Degree in Sociology

A doctorate in sociology is the highest level of education available. This terminal education equips graduates with research, teaching, and leadership careers. Students often concentrate their study on a specific topic, such as social deviance, criminal justice, or gender, racial, or ethnic disparities.

A doctorate in sociology typically takes 4-8 years to complete. You spend roughly a year preparing a qualifying paper and taking tests to move to doctoral candidacy after two to three years of in-class study. As a doctoral candidate, you spend one to two years conducting original research and writing your dissertation before presenting it in front of a faculty panel in a public setting.

Basic Requirements:

Master’s degree in a social science discipline
At least three years of professional experience in sociology

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Best Colleges and Universities for Sociology Degrees 2025

Key Takeaways

Best Colleges and Universities for Sociology Degrees in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

Featured Programs

The Best Colleges and Universities for Sociology Degrees

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at Harvard University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at University of California, Berkeley

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at Columbia University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at University of Chicago

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at Yale University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at Wesleyan University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at Amherst College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at Swarthmore College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at University of Missouri

Most Influential Alumni

University of Missouri’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at Wellesley College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at University of South Carolina

Most Influential Alumni

University of South Carolina’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

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Career Outlook for Sociology degree at University of Louisville

Most Influential Alumni

University of Louisville’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at Pomona College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Most Influential Alumni

University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

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Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for Sociology degree at Florida International University

Most Influential Alumni

Florida International University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for Students with Sociology Degree

Sociology

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Career Salaries

Top Industries

The Best Sociology Schools in Your State

Learn More About Sociology

Sociology: A Valuable Degree Program

Degree Levels in Sociology

Associate Degree in Sociology

Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology

Master’s Degree in Sociology

Doctoral Degree in Sociology