Best Universities for Sociology in the World

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 439M citations received by 17M academic papers made by 6,622 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 Flag

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States Flag

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: 66%

3. Stanford University

United States Flag

United States | California

For Sociology

#3 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

4. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#4 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

5. University of Oxford

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

6. University of Washington - Seattle

United States Flag

United States | Washington

For Sociology

#5 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

7. University College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

8. Johns Hopkins University

United States Flag

United States | Maryland

For Sociology

#6 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

9. Columbia University

United States Flag

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#7 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

10. University of California - Berkeley

United States Flag

United States | California

For Sociology

#8 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

11. Cornell University

United States Flag

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#9 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

12. University of California - Los Angeles

United States Flag

United States | California

For Sociology

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

13. University of Pennsylvania

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

14. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

15. University of Chicago

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#12 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

16. Yale University

United States Flag

United States | Connecticut

For Sociology

#13 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

17. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Sociology

#14 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States Flag

United States | Wisconsin

For Sociology

#15 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

19. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States Flag

United States | North Carolina

For Sociology

#16 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States Flag

United States | Minnesota

For Sociology

#17 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

21. Pennsylvania State University

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#18 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

22. Ohio State University

United States Flag

United States | Ohio

For Sociology

#19 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

23. New York University

United States Flag

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#20 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

24. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#21 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

25. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Sociology

#1 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

26. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Sociology

#2 in Australia

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

27. University of Southern California

United States Flag

United States | California

For Sociology

#22 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

28. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States Flag

United States | Arizona

For Sociology

#23 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

29. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Sociology

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

30. Michigan State University

United States Flag

United States | Michigan

For Sociology

#24 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

31. University of Texas at Austin

United States Flag

United States | Texas

For Sociology

#25 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

32. Duke University

United States Flag

United States | North Carolina

For Sociology

#26 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

33. University of Manchester

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#5 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

34. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Sociology

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

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

35. University of Pittsburgh

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#27 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

36. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Sociology

#3 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

37. University of California - San Francisco

United States Flag

United States | California

For Sociology

#28 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

38. King's College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#6 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1829

39. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Sociology

#29 in North America

#3 in Canada

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

40. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States Flag

United States | New Jersey

For Sociology

#30 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

41. University of California - Davis

United States Flag

United States | California

For Sociology

#31 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

42. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States Flag

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#32 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

43. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Sociology

#7 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

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

44. University of Florida

United States Flag

United States | Florida

For Sociology

#33 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

45. University of Arizona

United States Flag

United States | Arizona

For Sociology

#34 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

46. University of California-San Diego

United States Flag

United States | California

For Sociology

#35 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

47. University of Maryland - College Park

United States Flag

United States | Maryland

For Sociology

#36 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

48. Princeton University

United States Flag

United States | New Jersey

For Sociology

#37 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

49. Northwestern University

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#38 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

50. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Sociology

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 63,864
Founded: 1949

51. Boston University

United States Flag

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#39 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

52. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Sociology

#40 in North America

#4 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

53. University of Auckland

New Zealand Flag

New Zealand | Auckland

For Sociology

#1 in New Zealand

Founded: 1883

54. Australian National University

Australia | Canberra

For Sociology

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1946

55. Emory University

United States Flag

United States | Georgia

For Sociology

#41 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

56. London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#8 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

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

57. University of Bristol

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#9 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

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

58. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Sociology

#6 in Australia

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

59. Karolinska Institute

Sweden | Stockholm

For Sociology

#10 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 8,070
Founded: 1861

60. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#11 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1905

61. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#12 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

62. University of London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#13 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

63. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Sociology

#14 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

64. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Sociology

#15 in Europe

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

65. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Sociology

#16 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

66. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Sociology

#1 in Asia

#1 in China

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

67. Washington University in St Louis

United States Flag

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: $22,440

68. Imperial College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#17 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

69. University of Virginia

United States Flag

United States | Virginia

For Sociology

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

70. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Sociology

#18 in Europe

#13 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1451

71. Utrecht University

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Sociology

#19 in Europe

#2 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

72. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#20 in Europe

#14 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1948

73. Lund University

For Sociology

#21 in Europe

#2 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

74. University of California - Irvine

United States Flag

United States | California

For Sociology

#44 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

75. University of Utah

United States Flag

United States | Utah

For Sociology

#45 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

76. University of Leeds

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#22 in Europe

#15 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

77. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Sociology

#46 in North America

#5 in Canada

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

78. Purdue University

United States Flag

United States | Indiana

For Sociology

#47 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

79. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#48 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

80. University of York

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#23 in Europe

#16 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

81. University of Iowa

United States Flag

United States | Iowa State

For Sociology

#49 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

82. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States Flag

United States | Texas

For Sociology

#50 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

83. University of Warwick

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#24 in Europe

#17 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

84. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Sociology

#2 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

85. University of Oslo

For Sociology

#25 in Europe

#1 in Norway

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

86. Vanderbilt University

United States Flag

United States | Tennessee

For Sociology

#51 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

87. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#52 in North America

#6 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

88. Carnegie Mellon University

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#53 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

89. University of Georgia

United States Flag

United States | Georgia

For Sociology

#54 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

90. Aarhus University

Denmark | Aarhus

For Sociology

#26 in Europe

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

91. University of Groningen

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Groningen

For Sociology

#27 in Europe

#3 in the Netherlands

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

92. Uppsala University

Sweden | Uppsala

For Sociology

#28 in Europe

#3 in Sweden

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1477

93. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#55 in North America

#7 in Canada

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

94. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#56 in North America

#8 in Canada

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

95. Chinese University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Sociology

#3 in Asia

#2 in China

Founded: 1963

96. University of Southampton

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Sociology

#29 in Europe

#18 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

97. Erasmus University Rotterdam

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Rotterdam

For Sociology

#30 in Europe

#4 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

98. Georgetown University

United States Flag

United States | District of Columbia

For Sociology

#57 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

99. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Sociology

#4 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

100. Florida State University

United States Flag

United States | Florida

For Sociology

#58 in North America

#50 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in the World

Anthropology4409

Archaeology6192

Art History2170

Broadcast Journalism1020

Classics and Ancient History2854

Communications and Public Relations3540

Criminology and Criminal Justice1483

Early Childhood Education1005

Education Majors4586

Forensic Science1008

Gender Studies2328

Human Rights Law1021

Intellectual Property and Patent Law1036

International Law1018

International Relations and Diplomacy1005

Journalism and Digital Media1704

Law Enforcement1002

Library and Information science3307

Linguistics6070

Media Studies1562

Military science1095

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution1007

Occupational Safety and Health1028

Political Economy1361

Political Science6729

Public Policy / Administration1849

Radio and Television broadcasting1089

Social Work1036

Special Education1020

Sports / Exercise science1302

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies4425

Urban and Regional planning1514