We rank the best online PhD in sociology degree programs.
Only a select number of universities offer a fully online doctoral of sociology program. In most cases, online doctoral studies in areas like educational leadership, public policy, and health policy will offer sociology program concentrations. These programs are the focus of this ranking.
This sociology doctoral program is considered a terminal degree, which means it is the highest degree that you can earn in the field. Online doctoral level sociology programs typically prepare students for opportunities for leadership, public consultation, research, and post-secondary education.
Online PhD in sociology candidates are typically already working at a high level in their field. This means that students seeking their doctorate must balance existing work and personal responsibilities with a challenging course of education.
For many graduate students, online courses and fully online programs provide a way to achieve this balance.
For a look at how these online doctoral programs stack up against traditional on campus programs, check out our look at the Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees.
Or find out what your options are with a look at our College Rankings Guide.
Otherwise, read on and learn more about how you can earn an online PhD in sociology or a related subject through a top-ranked online doctorate program.
Quality and credibility are important when it comes to finding an online PhD in sociology program. The best online doctorate programs will have proper accreditation:
When looking for an online doctoral program, seek out options with accreditation from a colleges and schools commission in your region. This stamp of approval is critical for ensuring the quality and credibility of your online program.
Under this classification, top research universities for doctoral degrees and PhD candidates are identified as either R2: Doctoral Universities for “high research activity” or R1: Doctoral Universities for “very high research activity.” Look for these classifications when considering options for your online Phd programs.
Key Point: The best online doctoral programs will have both institutional and programmatic accreditation.
Schools that offer online doctorate programs have different admission requirements. However, most online doctoral programs will carry the same basic threshold for admission:
Key Point: In most cases, you’ll be eligible to enter a doctoral degree online after earning a bachelor’s degree. However, some specialized online PhD programs may require you to have earned a master’s degree as well.
Research is the central component of your online sociology PhD program. This is true for fully online doctorate degrees as well as hybrid degrees combining online education with traditional on-campus courses. Regardless of whether you complete traditional, hybrid or online graduate study, the typical time to completion is three to five years.
The typical components of your PhD degree in sociology online program may include:
Most students will begin their program in sociology with core courses in areas like sociological theory, political science, social inequality, and more. Doctorate program students will also complete sociology courses in a chosen concentration such as economic sociology, environmental sociology, political sociology, urban sociology, and more.
Moreover, most doctoral studies in sociology will incorporate advanced research methods courses as well as instruction in experimental design. You may be able to complete many of these requirements through online classes.
Many online doctoral students are required to complete certain examinations to enter into online PhD candidacy. This will typically occur after you’ve completed one to two years of foundational courses.
In most cases, the central component of your online PhD program will be the completion of your dissertation. After gaining status as an online PhD candidate, you will typically work closely with a professorial advisor or mentor to develop an original research question. This research question will form the basis of your dissertation—an ongoing project designed to address this research question through applied research. Students develop research methodologies while working closely with an advisor or mentor. Much of your dissertation will be rooted in independent research. This is especially true for students pursuing an online PhD.
Upon completion of the written portion of your dissertation—which will typically present the findings from your original research project—you will be expected to defend your findings. This “oral defense” will typically be conducted by a commission of professors and experts in your field. PhD candidates in some online degree programs may be able to conduct this defense via teleconferencing.
Some online PhD programs will also include a teaching practicum, which will require you to work as an adjunct professor or teacher’s assistant in the sociology department of your university. It may be possible for students in the online doctoral degree program to also serve teaching requirements by instructing online students.
Some program in sociology degrees will require students to work closely with faculty members in a mentor-apprenticeship capacity. Other programs may require participation in specific research seminars.
Key Point: The online PhD is a research-focused degree. Your dissertation will be a central part of your online doctoral degree program.
Accredited online sociology doctorates are generally terminal degree programs. This means that students who complete credible online doctoral degrees in sociology or a related field like public policy or educational leadership will generally be eligible for top positions and opportunities in their field.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the top 10% of sociologists work in areas like research, development, and policy implementation, and earned more than $136,000 in 2021.
Working professionals who earn an accredited online doctorate in sociology or a related area may be eligible to work in the following areas.
Key Points: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, students with a doctorate in sociology or a related subject will be eligible to work in research, post-secondary education, and policy development.
Technically, a PhD is a type of doctorate degree. This means that all online PhD candidates are doctoral students. By contrast, not all doctoral students are PhD candidates.
The primary distinction is that doctoral students are primarily focused on putting existing theories into practice. Depending on your chosen field, your online doctoral degree may require participation in an educational leadership program, engagement in clinical practice, work as a resident in a nursing program, and much more.
By contrast, online PhD students are focused on creating new knowledge in their area of study. This usually means that online PhD candidates are focused on introducing new theories, creating research projects around these theories, and presenting new findings that demonstrate a mastery of existing knowledge and the insight to introduce new ideas into the field.
Today, more working professionals than ever before are pursuing both online doctoral degrees and online Phd programs.
The following graph depicts the average salaries of Sociologists for each percentile in the U.S.
Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
SVG Attribution: Wikipedia
The online PhD programs identified here are ranked based on influence, with weighting for graduation rate and full-time online enrollment. While only a limited number of colleges and universities offer a fully online doctorate program in sociology, a number of top-ranked graduate schools offer fully online degrees in related areas.
Many students pursue careers in sociology after earning concentrated degrees in areas like public policy development, public administration, educational leadership, public health administration, and more.
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
94%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1430/32
University of Michigan’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of Michigan was founded in 1817, which is actually about 20 years before the territory of Michigan became a state. Roughly half of the students at the University of Michigan are from the state of Michigan, which means they enjoy discounted state tuition rates.
The University of Michigan draws students from all over the world. International students make up about 15% of the school’s population.
University of Michigan offers several online PhD concentrations geared toward sociology graduates. Several are housed in its Educational Studies PhD including concentrations in Educational Foundations and Policy and Literacy, Language, and Culture.
Enjoy a vaunted athletics program and a large student body—roughly 32,000 undergrads and 16,000 grad students.
Prefer a small campus. The Ann Arbor campus is so large that it is divided into four distinct campus sections, all connected by bus service.
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
8%
Graduation
95%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/35
Johns Hopkins University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Johns Hopkins University was formed in 1876 and, in addition to being the oldest research university in the U.S., Johns Hopkins is actually the oldest research institution in the western hemisphere! In fact, Johns Hopkins was considered a groundbreaking institution from its very formation for its innovative merging of research and teaching.
Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins serves more than 26,000 students today.
Johns Hopkins University offers a number of online doctoral degree programs, including any array of Doctorate of Public Health degrees with concentrations in sociology. Among them, doctoral candidates can conduct research in focused areas such as Environmental Health (Environmental Health or Health Security Track), Health Equity and Social Justice, and Global Health: Policy & Evaluation.
Are looking to conduct research at the graduate level. The vast majority of Johns Hopkins students—well over 20,000—are pursuing advanced postgraduate degrees.
Are seeking a social campus experience. Many students at Johns Hopkins are primarily focused on the rigorous academic experience.
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
69%
Student body
30K
Median SAT/ACT
1195/25
Louisiana State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Louisiana State University is a public research university based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Founded in 1860, LSU is both the flagship institution in the state university system and the largest school in the state of Louisiana.
With an estimated 36,000 students pursuing degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, Louisiana State University offers more than 230 degree programs across 11 academic colleges.
LSU offers an online doctorate of education in leadership studies with several concentrations related to the practice of sociology including its Leadership Studies concentration and its Health Communication & Leadership concentration.
Are seeking a diverse student body. With students from all 50 states and more than 100 nations, LSU offers the opportunity to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Are seeking a small, liberal arts college experience. LSU is a large, comprehensive university with numerous educational, athletic, and recreational opportunities to choose from.
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
69%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/26
Colorado State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Colorado State University was formed in 1870 as the flagship institution in what would become the Colorado state school system. The Fort Collins-based public research university is noted today for including the biomedical sciences, engineering, environmental science, and more.
Colorado State University was formed as a small agricultural school in the years leading up to Colorado’s 1876 statehood. Today, Colorado State serves more than 34,000 students.
Colorado State University offers a small selection of online PhD programs, including a PhD in Higher Education Leadership. For sociology students, this advanced degree offers an opportunity to apply social theory and research to issues such as inclusiveness and admissions equality on the higher education landscape.
Are pursuing careers in healthcare. Colorado State ranks high for spending on its various medical sciences programs.
Are seeking a small campus experience.
Tuition + fees
$12K
Student body
39K
Walden University is a private online school with headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Walden operates on a for-profit business model.
Walden University was established in 1970 with the goal of helping working adults—specifically those in education—earn their doctoral degree. Today, Walden serves nearly 50,000 students in countless areas of study.
Walden University offers two online doctoral programs of interest to sociology students. Both its Doctor of Public Administration and its PhD in Public Policy and Administration can offer inroads into sociology research, policy consultation, or postsecondary education.
Are studying nursing, public health, and healthcare administration. Walden is one of the nation’s top degree providers in these fields.
Plan to earn PhDs in psychology. Walden’s PhDs do not have accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA).
Students considering an online doctoral in sociology should also check out the best on-campus options to compare features like cost, curriculum, acceptance rate, and more.
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
93%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1420/32
University of California, Berkeley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
94%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1430/32
University of Michigan’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
87%
Student body
49K
Median SAT/ACT
1455/32
New York University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
92%
Student body
46K
University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
60%
Graduation
89%
Student body
38K
Median SAT/ACT
1360/29
University of Wisconsin–Madison’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Find out more with a look at our Guide to Online Degrees.