Sociology Degree

414 schools compared · Average earnings $34,393/yr

Students study social structures, institutions, inequality, group behavior, and the forces that shape human communities, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Graduates typically pursue careers in social services, market research, human resources, community planning, public policy, and nonprofit management, or continue to graduate programs in sociology, social work, or law. Sociology's focus on understanding social systems makes graduates valuable in any role requiring analysis of human behavior and social trends.

What Sociology Graduates Do

Your understanding of social structures and human behavior translates directly into diverse, real-world careers. Many graduates begin as social science research assistants, where you’ll spend your days cleaning datasets, conducting literature reviews, and preparing materials for senior researchers. This role is a common stepping stone, providing the experience needed to become a full sociologist—designing studies and analyzing societal trends—or to pursue the graduate degrees required for teaching at the college level.

While academic paths are competitive with slow growth, many more opportunities exist in management. Your sociology background gives you an edge in understanding team dynamics and organizational culture, preparing you to lead teams in non-profits, human resources, or market research. AI is changing these fields, automating routine tasks like data analysis and literature searches, especially in entry-level research roles. The jobs aren't disappearing, but your focus will shift. Your future value lies in asking the right questions, interpreting data within its complex human context, and making the nuanced judgments that algorithms cannot.

Schools Offering
414
Avg Grad Earnings
$34,393/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
39/100
AI Automation Risk
High
49% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Sociology graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 114,800 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Managers, all other
$136,550
$100K$179K
106,700 +4.5% 47%
Sociologists
$101,690
$78K$135K
300 +3.6% 54%
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
$82,540
$64K$113K
1,100 +2.1% 43%
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
$75,040
$60K$105K
1,500 +1.7% 0%
Social science research assistants
$58,040
$46K$73K
5,200 +4.4% 67%
Managers, all other
$136,550
$100K $179K
106,700 openings/yr +4.5% growth 47% AI risk
Sociologists
$101,690
$78K $135K
300 openings/yr +3.6% growth 54% AI risk
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
$82,540
$64K $113K
1,100 openings/yr +2.1% growth 43% AI risk
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
$75,040
$60K $105K
1,500 openings/yr +1.7% growth 0% AI risk
Social science research assistants
$58,040
$46K $73K
5,200 openings/yr +4.4% growth 67% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Sociology

Top 20 of 414 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 American Public University System
Charles Town, WV
57
53–58
$47,633/yr 15.4x
2 San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
57
54–58
$40,763/yr 19.7x
3 CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY
56
53–57
$41,062/yr 18.5x
4 University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
56
53–57
$40,774/yr 12.1x
5 California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA
56
53–57
$39,378/yr 20.6x
6 Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA
55
52–55
$37,896/yr 18.1x
7 Brigham Young University
Provo, UT
55
53–55
$35,404/yr 23.8x
8 The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ
54
49–54
$46,953/yr 8.1x
9 CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY
54
50–55
$42,710/yr 16.6x
10 CUNY York College
Jamaica, NY
54
50–54
$40,515/yr 17.4x
11 University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA
54
50–54
$40,062/yr 12.3x
12 Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY
53
49–54
$58,541/yr 2.4x
13 Minnesota State University Moorhead
Moorhead, MN
53
49–54
$42,984/yr 12.7x
14 University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
53
50–54
$42,703/yr 11.9x
15 California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
53
50–53
$37,040/yr 18.1x
16 California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA
53
51–54
$36,557/yr 20.6x
17 University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
52
48–53
$45,786/yr 7.1x
18 Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN
52
48–52
$42,108/yr 13.0x
19 University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE
52
49–53
$40,871/yr 15.0x
20 Iowa State University
Ames, IA
52
48–53
$40,602/yr 12.8x

Highest Earning Sociology Programs

Schools where Sociology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings DW Score
Dartmouth College $64,377/yr 48
Columbia University in the City of New York $58,541/yr 53
Santa Clara University $53,612/yr 49
Colgate University $51,788/yr 42
Trinity College $50,077/yr 41
King's College $48,529/yr 39
Barnard College $48,215/yr 44
Boston College $48,091/yr 47
Tufts University $47,859/yr 40
Bowdoin College $47,749/yr 40

Best ROI for Sociology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Sociology.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
University of Florida-Online 31.9x $33,611/yr 49
University of North Carolina at Pembroke 29.7x $34,051/yr 47
Brigham Young University-Idaho 26.6x $31,353/yr 47
Western Carolina University 25.9x $23,374/yr 40
Fayetteville State University 24.6x $33,544/yr 44
Florida Atlantic University 24.3x $29,679/yr 44
Brigham Young University 23.8x $35,404/yr 55
Florida State University 21.0x $33,783/yr 48
California State University-East Bay 20.6x $39,378/yr 56
California State University-Channel Islands 20.6x $36,557/yr 53
Want to compare two Sociology programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Sociology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Sociology graduates earn?
Across 414 schools, Sociology graduates earn an average of $34,393 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $18,487 to $64,377 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Sociology?
Sociology is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 49% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means some career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Sociology program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), American Public University System ranks #1 for Sociology with a score of 57/100 and graduate earnings of $47,633/yr.
What's the outlook for a Sociology degree?
On average, Sociology graduates earn 8.8x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →