# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/sociology
- CIP code: 45.11 (Social Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 944 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 39 | $42,891 | $49,107 | $17,449 |
| Associate's | 231 | $35,738 | $45,161 | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 944 | $40,634 | $52,105 | $20,500 |
| Master's | 232 | $57,159 | $65,008 | $35,460 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 120 | $81,800 | $102,687 | not reported |
| First professional | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 35 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | New York, NY | $101,536 | $20,750 |
| [William & Mary](https://www.collegesref.com/college/william-mary-3270) | Williamsburg, VA | $87,655 | $15,000 |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vanderbilt-university-3113) | Nashville, TN | $83,649 | not reported |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Hanover, NH | $81,722 | $10,911 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Washington, DC | $78,857 | not reported |
| [Barnard College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/barnard-college-181) | New York, NY | $77,821 | not reported |
| [New York University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | New York, NY | $77,650 | $20,500 |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Evanston, IL | $75,267 | not reported |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Ithaca, NY | $73,200 | $10,250 |
| [Fordham University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fordham-university-990) | Bronx, NY | $71,581 | $21,500 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Managers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/managers-all-other): $141,900 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-operations-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Sociologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sociologists): $106,030 median pay
- [Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sociology-teachers-postsecondary): $84,290 median pay
- [Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-sciences-teachers-postsecondary-all-other): $72,990 median pay
- [Social Science Research Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-science-research-assistants): $61,990 median pay

## More in Social Sciences

- [Political Science and Government](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/political-science-and-government): 1,087 colleges
- [Economics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/economics): 767 colleges
- [Anthropology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/anthropology): 455 colleges
- [International Relations and National Security Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/international-relations-and-national-security-studies): 366 colleges
- [Social Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-sciences-general): 317 colleges
- [Geography and Cartography](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geography-and-cartography): 293 colleges
- [Criminology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/criminology): 220 colleges
- [Social Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-sciences-other): 108 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/