Best Universities for Sociology in the World

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Sociology. A graph of 311M citations received by 14.9M academic papers made by 6,493 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Sociology

#2 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

3. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#3 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

4. Stanford University

United States | California

For Sociology

#4 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

5. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

6. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

7. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Sociology

#5 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

8. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#6 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

9. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Sociology

#7 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

10. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Sociology

#8 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

11. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#9 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

12. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Sociology

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

13. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

14. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Sociology

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

15. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Sociology

#12 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

16. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#13 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Sociology

#14 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

18. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#15 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

19. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Sociology

#16 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

20. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#17 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

21. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Sociology

#18 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

22. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Sociology

#19 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

23. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Sociology

#1 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

24. New York University

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#20 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

25. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Sociology

#2 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

26. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#21 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

27. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Sociology

#22 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

28. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Sociology

#23 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

29. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Sociology

#24 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

30. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#25 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

31. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Sociology

#3 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

32. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

33. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Sociology

#5 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

34. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Sociology

#26 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

35. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Sociology

#27 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

36. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#6 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1829

37. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Sociology

#28 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

38. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Sociology

#29 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

39. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Sociology

#30 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

40. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Sociology

#31 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

41. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Sociology

#32 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

42. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Sociology

#7 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

43. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Sociology

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 97,964
Founded: 1827

44. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#33 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

45. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#34 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

46. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Sociology

#35 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

47. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Sociology

#36 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

48. Karolinska Institute

Sweden | Stockholm

For Sociology

#8 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 8,070
Founded: 1861

49. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Sociology

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

50. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Sociology

#37 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

51. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Sociology

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1949

52. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Sociology

#38 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

53. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Sociology

#39 in North America

#4 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

54. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Sociology

#40 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

55. University of Auckland

New Zealand | Auckland

For Sociology

#1 in New Zealand

Founded: 1883

56. Australian National University

Australia | Canberra

For Sociology

#6 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1946

57. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#9 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

58. London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#10 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

59. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#41 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

60. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Sociology

#11 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

61. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Sociology

#12 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

62. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#13 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1905

63. Lund University

For Sociology

#14 in Europe

#2 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

64. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Sociology

#15 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

65. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#16 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

66. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Sociology

#42 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

67. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Sociology

#1 in Asia

#1 in China

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 21,652
Founded: 1911

68. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#17 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

69. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Sociology

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

70. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Sociology

#18 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1451

71. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#19 in Europe

#13 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1948

72. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#44 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

73. Utrecht University

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Sociology

#20 in Europe

#2 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

74. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Sociology

#45 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

75. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Sociology

#46 in North America

#5 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

76. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#21 in Europe

#14 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

77. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Sociology

#47 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

78. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Sociology

#48 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

79. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Sociology

#49 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

80. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#50 in North America

#6 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

81. University of Warwick

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#22 in Europe

#15 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

82. University of Oslo

For Sociology

#23 in Europe

#1 in Norway

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

83. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Sociology

#2 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

84. University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#24 in Europe

#16 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

85. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Sociology

#51 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

86. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#52 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

87. Uppsala University

Sweden | Uppsala

For Sociology

#25 in Europe

#3 in Sweden

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 35,556
Founded: 1477

88. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Sociology

#53 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

89. University of Groningen

Netherlands | Groningen

For Sociology

#26 in Europe

#3 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 34,000
Founded: 1614

90. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Sociology

#54 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

91. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Sociology

#3 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

92. University of Southampton

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#27 in Europe

#17 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

93. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#55 in North America

#7 in Canada

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

94. Aarhus University

Denmark | Aarhus

For Sociology

#28 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 33,020
Founded: 1928

95. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#56 in North America

#8 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

96. University of Gothenburg

Sweden | Gothenburg

For Sociology

#29 in Europe

#4 in Sweden

Enrollment: 36,003
Founded: 1891

97. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Sociology

#57 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

98. Erasmus University Rotterdam

Netherlands | Rotterdam

For Sociology

#30 in Europe

#4 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

99. Radboud University

Netherlands | Nijmegen

For Sociology

#31 in Europe

#5 in the Netherlands

Founded: 1923

100. University of Liverpool

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#32 in Europe

#18 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in the World

Anthropology4117

Archaeology6040

Art History1941

Broadcast Journalism1052

Classics and Ancient History2556

Communications and Public Relations3255

Criminology and Criminal Justice1307

Early Childhood Education1039

Education Majors4239

Forensic Science1000

Gender Studies2091

Human Rights Law1000

Intellectual Property and Patent Law1054

International Law1021

International Relations and Diplomacy1024

Journalism and Digital Media1510

Law Enforcement1013

Library and Information science2980

Linguistics5870

Media Studies1385

Military science1139

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution1019

Occupational Safety and Health1027

Political Economy1244

Political Science6606

Public Policy / Administration1677

Radio and Television broadcasting1187

Social Work1028

Special Education1011

Sports / Exercise science1145

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies4103

Urban and Regional planning1321