Bright outlook
Management
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
Sociology
CIP45.11
944 colleges offer Sociology. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 944
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $52,105
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $20,500
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 39
- Associate's
- 231
- Bachelor's
- 944
- Master's
- 232
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 5
- Doctoral
- 120
- First professional
- 2
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 35
What it covers
About Sociology
A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 45.11.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 45.11.
- Sociology, General
- Applied/Public Sociology
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 39 | $49,1074 yrs after · 2 colleges | $17,4492 colleges |
| Associate's | 231 | $45,1614 yrs after · 29 colleges | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 944 | $52,1054 yrs after · 444 colleges | $20,500343 colleges |
| Master's | 232 | $65,0084 yrs after · 5 colleges | $35,4605 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 120 | $102,6874 yrs after · 2 colleges | Not reported |
| First professional | 2 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 35 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Sociology graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 57 graduates
$101,536
debt $20,750
- 2
Williamsburg, VA · Public · 47 graduates
$87,655
debt $15,000
- 3
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit · 29 graduates
$83,649
debt not reported
- 4
Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit · 34 graduates
$81,722
debt $10,911
- 5
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 18 graduates
$78,857
debt not reported
- 6
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 27 graduates
$77,821
debt not reported
- 7
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 76 graduates
$77,650
debt $20,500
- 8
Northwestern University-Illinois
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit · 20 graduates
$75,267
debt not reported
- 9
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 43 graduates
$73,200
debt $10,250
- 10
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofit · 45 graduates
$71,581
debt $21,500
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Sociology by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Compliance Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Loss Prevention Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Managers, All Other
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook
Management
Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Wind Energy Development Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Wind Energy Operations Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Science
Sociologists
- Median pay
- $106,030
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Master's degree
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
More in Social Sciences
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Sociology
How many colleges offer Sociology?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Sociology at these degree levels: certificate (39 colleges), associate's (231 colleges), bachelor's (944 colleges), master's (232 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (5 colleges), doctoral (120 colleges), first professional (2 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (35 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Sociology graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Sociology earn $52,105 a year four years after finishing, across 444 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Sociology graduates earn the most?
Columbia University in the City of New York reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Sociology: $101,536 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.