by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Sociology is the 25th most popular major in the country with 38,475 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, sociology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $24,587 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major” ranking, we looked at 1,181 colleges that offer a degree in sociology. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in sociology.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for sociology students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Simmons College of Kentucky. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major. Simmons College of Kentucky is a small school located in Louisville, Kentucky that handed out 4 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is a small school located in Cheyney, Pennsylvania that handed out 17 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Sociology at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Out of the 1,181 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Paine College landed the #3 spot on the list. Paine College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Augusta, Georgia. It awarded 3 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lane College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major list. This small school is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and it awarded 19 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Feather River Community College District. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major list. Feather River College is a public institution located in Quincy, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Sociology at Feather River Community College District
Rust College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Holly Springs, Mississippi, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Lake Tahoe Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major list. LTCC is a small school located in South Lake Tahoe, California that handed out 21 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Sociology at Lake Tahoe Community College
Morris College ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major list. Morris College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sumter, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 726 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #10, Tougaloo College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major list. Tougaloo, Mississippi is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #11, Bloomfield College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major list. Bloomfield College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bloomfield, New Jersey. It awarded 25 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
California State University - Channel Islands did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking, coming in at #12. California State University - Channel Islands is a medium-sized public school situated in Camarillo, California. It awarded 187 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #13, Harris - Stowe State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this small public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
Canada College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking. This small school is located in Redwood City, California, and it awarded 65 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #15, Norfolk State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major list. Norfolk State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 63 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Hartwick College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking. Hartwick is located in Oneonta, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking. University of North Carolina at Pembroke is a public institution located in Pembroke, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 131 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Wiley College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking. Located in Marshall, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
Mt. San Antonio College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking. Mt. San Antonio College is a large school located in Walnut, California that handed out 335 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Sonoma State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking, coming in at #20. SSU is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 148 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major list. CSUDH is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 301 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Sociology at California State University - Dominguez Hills
California State University - San Marcos came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking. San Marcos, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 276 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Saint Augustine’s University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking. SAU is a small school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 7 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Lehman College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking, coming in at #24. Lehman College is a public institution located in Bronx, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 248 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Central College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Sociology Major ranking, coming in at #25. Central College is located in Pella, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Albertus Magnus College | New Haven, CT |
| 52 | Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster, PA |
| 53 | Glendale Community College | Glendale, CA |
| 54 | University of California - Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA |
| 55 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Princess Anne, MD |
| 56 | Bowdoin College | Brunswick, ME |
| 57 | University of South Carolina - Aiken | Aiken, SC |
| 58 | Shepherd University | Shepherdstown, WV |
| 59 | Colorado State University - Pueblo | Pueblo, CO |
| 60 | University of California - Merced | Merced, CA |
| 61 | Hampshire College | Amherst, MA |
| 62 | Presbyterian College | Clinton, SC |
| 63 | Le Moyne - Owen College | Memphis, TN |
| 64 | California State University - Northridge | Northridge, CA |
| 65 | Fullerton College | Fullerton, CA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Bates College | Lewiston, ME |
| 92 | Morehouse College | Atlanta, GA |
| 93 | Mount Saint Mary’s University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 94 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona | Pomona, CA |
| 95 | Citrus College | Glendora, CA |
| 96 | College of Mount Saint Vincent | Bronx, NY |
| 97 | Fisk University | Nashville, TN |
| 98 | Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree, CA |
| 99 | Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA |
| 100 | Georgetown College | Georgetown, KY |
| 101 | Millsaps College | Jackson, MS |
| 102 | Roanoke College | Salem, VA |
| 103 | Queens College | Queens, NY |
| 104 | Lincoln University | Lincoln University, PA |
| 105 | Merced College | Merced, CA |
| 106 | College of the Holy Cross | Worcester, MA |
| 107 | University of North Texas at Dallas | Dallas, TX |
| 108 | Long Beach City College | Long Beach, CA |
| 109 | Mills College | Oakland, CA |
| 110 | Lander University | Greenwood, SC |
| 111 | William Penn University | Oskaloosa, IA |
| 112 | SUNY Old Westbury | Old Westbury, NY |
| 113 | El Camino College | Torrance, CA |
| 114 | Ripon College | Ripon, WI |
| 115 | University of Puerto Rico - Cayey | Cayey, PR |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 166 | San Jose City College | San Jose, CA |
| 167 | McDaniel College | Westminster, MD |
| 168 | Connecticut College | New London, CT |
| 169 | Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa, CA |
| 170 | Hamilton College | Clinton, NY |
| 171 | Meredith College | Raleigh, NC |
| 172 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake, IN |
| 173 | Purchase College | Purchase, NY |
| 174 | Moravian College | Bethlehem, PA |
| 175 | Bowie State University | Bowie, MD |
| 176 | Taft College | Taft, CA |
| 177 | East Georgia State College | Swainsboro, GA |
| 178 | California State University - Long Beach | Long Beach, CA |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
