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Best Value Sociology Colleges

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

CUNY schools command seven of the top ten spots for sociology value, with Hunter College leading at just $2,446 net cost annually while graduates earn $34,633. The City University system creates an unusual concentration of affordable sociology programs in New York's metro area, where nonprofit organizations, social services agencies, and municipal government provide strong employment opportunities for sociology majors. Net costs across these programs span from $2,446 to $7,168, yet earnings vary dramatically from $26,585 at Texas A&M International to $38,289 at CUNY York College. California State schools also perform well in this ranking, with programs in Carson, Los Angeles, Fullerton, and Bakersfield offering strong value propositions. The data reveals that public university systems in high-cost metropolitan areas often provide the best financial returns for sociology students, combining low attendance costs with access to job markets where social science skills command competitive salaries.
50
Programs
$2,446 – $16,816
Net Price Range
$33,549
Avg. Program Earnings
53.7%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Sociology Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $2,446 $34,633 $7,382 61.0% 47.9%
2 $2,943 $34,298 $7,452 56.6% 54.5%
3 $3,486 $35,701 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
4 $3,482 $33,325 $7,410 49.3% 55.3%
5 $3,659 $32,043 $7,064 46.9% 89.1%
6 $3,061 $26,585 $7,846 48.9% 47.9%
7 $3,830 $31,133 $7,538 60.2% 69.5%
8 $4,734 $38,289 $7,358 30.3% 59.1%
9 $4,113 $30,240 $6,813 52.6% 86.9%
10 $4,702 $29,940 $3,876 77.7% 64.6%
11 $5,458 $32,569 $3,148 26.8%
12 $6,276 $37,208 $8,179 44.7% 85.8%
13 $5,646 $33,459 $7,073 69.2% 66.7%
14 $6,199 $33,993 $6,863 39.8% 27.6%
15 $5,825 $30,363 $7,696 49.3% 86.6%
16 $5,918 $29,891 $7,675 54.7% 91.1%
17 $5,671 $26,880 $7,826 58.0% 96.6%
18 $6,351 $29,940 $6,381 91.5% 23.4%
19 $7,131 $33,459 $4,656 55.1% 95.6%
20 $7,168 $32,569 $10,896 48.3% 86.0%
21 $9,144 $41,007 $10,904 43.0% 94.7%
22 $7,599 $33,467 $7,095 56.2% 91.2%
23 $9,104 $39,153 $8,400 53.2%
24 $10,555 $44,942 $59,710 97.1% 5.7%
25 $6,747 $27,947 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
26 $7,360 $30,047 $3,969 35.2% 81.2%
27 $8,001 $32,658 $4,879 64.3% 81.3%
28 $8,896 $35,060 $17,462 59.5% 97.9%
29 $6,480 $25,194 $6,980 54.8% 95.4%
30 $6,500 $25,194 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
31 $10,948 $40,281 $8,648 44.2% 93.6%
32 $8,463 $30,554 $8,419 44.0% 72.8%
33 $8,257 $29,685 $8,179 33.4% 85.2%
34 $9,792 $35,142 $6,817 53.5% 89.7%
35 $10,512 $36,344 $7,602 55.8% 93.2%
36 $8,931 $30,510 $7,008 69.9% 40.0%
37 $9,837 $33,138 $10,904 16.2%
38 $16,816 $56,641 $59,076 97.3% 3.2%
39 $10,044 $33,565 $7,855 39.8% 72.8%
40 $11,276 $35,518 $7,055 45.5% 96.2%
41 $11,580 $36,129 $7,439 66.7% 55.4%
42 $12,391 $38,289 $8,642 49.5% 95.9%
43 $9,900 $30,554 $8,379 46.6% 92.1%
44 $12,640 $39,009 $58,128 95.7% 8.7%
45 $10,145 $31,133 $5,068 35.4% 56.3%
46 $10,204 $31,133 $9,892 45.6% 96.6%
47 $11,504 $35,060 $17,462 56.7% 97.4%
48 $10,319 $30,926 $6,118 56.0% 74.4%
49 $10,785 $32,284 $5,009 36.8% 69.6%
50 $10,170 $30,371 $7,593 57.9% 91.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY schools dominate sociology value rankings?

Seven CUNY campuses appear in the top ten because they combine extremely low net costs with decent graduate earnings in New York's job market. Hunter College charges just $2,446 net annually while graduates earn $34,633, creating strong value. The CUNY system keeps tuition affordable while providing access to New York City's extensive nonprofit sector, social services organizations, and government agencies that hire sociology majors.

How do graduation rates compare across these value programs?

Graduation rates vary significantly, from University of Florida Online's 77.7% down to Texas Southmost College's 26.8%. Most CUNY schools maintain moderate graduation rates between 49% and 61%, while California State schools like Fullerton achieve 69.2%. Higher graduation rates don't always correlate with lower costs in this ranking, as several affordable programs struggle with completion.

Is there a connection between program location and graduate earnings?

Geography plays a major role, with New York and California programs generally producing higher-earning graduates despite lower attendance costs. CUNY York College graduates earn $38,289 annually, while Texas A&M International graduates earn just $26,585. Metropolitan areas with strong nonprofit sectors and social services infrastructure tend to offer better salary prospects for sociology majors.

Does student debt vary significantly among these programs?

Student debt levels range from $10,199 at CUNY City College to $19,575 at Eastern New Mexico University. Most CUNY schools keep debt below $12,500, while some regional programs burden students with higher debt loads. Programs with net costs under $4,000 typically produce graduates with more manageable debt burdens relative to their earning potential.

Where do California State schools rank for sociology value?

Four California State campuses make this ranking, with Dominguez Hills, Los Angeles, Fullerton, and Bakersfield all offering strong value. Cal State Fullerton performs best among them with a 69.2% graduation rate and $33,459 average earnings. These schools typically charge between $6,813 and $7,696 in-state tuition while maintaining reasonable debt levels and decent post-graduation employment outcomes.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.