Best Universities for Sociology in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Sociology. A graph of 148M citations received by 5.34M academic papers made by 1,645 universities in North America 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 the United States

#1 in the World

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 the United States

#2 in the World

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

3. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#1 in Canada

#3 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

4. Stanford University

United States | California

For Sociology

#3 in the United States

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Sociology

#4 in the United States

#7 in the World

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

6. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#5 in the United States

#8 in the World

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

7. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Sociology

#6 in the United States

#9 in the World

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

8. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Sociology

#7 in the United States

#10 in the World

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

9. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#8 in the United States

#11 in the World

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

10. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Sociology

#9 in the United States

#12 in the World

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

11. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Sociology

#10 in the United States

#14 in the World

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

12. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Sociology

#2 in Canada

#15 in the World

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

13. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#11 in the United States

#16 in the World

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

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Sociology

#12 in the United States

#17 in the World

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

15. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#13 in the United States

#18 in the World

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

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Sociology

#14 in the United States

#19 in the World

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

17. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#15 in the United States

#20 in the World

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

18. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Sociology

#16 in the United States

#21 in the World

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

19. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Sociology

#17 in the United States

#22 in the World

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

20. New York University

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#18 in the United States

#24 in the World

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

21. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#19 in the United States

#26 in the World

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

22. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Sociology

#20 in the United States

#27 in the World

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

23. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Sociology

#21 in the United States

#28 in the World

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

24. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Sociology

#22 in the United States

#29 in the World

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

25. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#23 in the United States

#30 in the World

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

26. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Sociology

#24 in the United States

#34 in the World

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

27. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Sociology

#25 in the United States

#35 in the World

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

28. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Sociology

#3 in Canada

#37 in the World

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

29. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Sociology

#26 in the United States

#38 in the World

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

30. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Sociology

#27 in the United States

#39 in the World

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

31. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Sociology

#28 in the United States

#40 in the World

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

32. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Sociology

#29 in the United States

#41 in the World

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

33. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#30 in the United States

#44 in the World

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

34. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#31 in the United States

#45 in the World

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

35. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Sociology

#32 in the United States

#46 in the World

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

36. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Sociology

#33 in the United States

#47 in the World

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

37. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Sociology

#34 in the United States

#50 in the World

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

38. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Sociology

#35 in the United States

#52 in the World

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

39. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Sociology

#4 in Canada

#53 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

40. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Sociology

#36 in the United States

#54 in the World

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

41. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#37 in the United States

#59 in the World

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

42. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Sociology

#38 in the United States

#66 in the World

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

43. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Sociology

#39 in the United States

#69 in the World

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

44. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Sociology

#40 in the United States

#72 in the World

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

45. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Sociology

#41 in the United States

#74 in the World

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

46. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Sociology

#5 in Canada

#75 in the World

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

47. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Sociology

#42 in the United States

#77 in the World

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

48. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Sociology

#43 in the United States

#78 in the World

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

49. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Sociology

#44 in the United States

#79 in the World

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

50. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#6 in Canada

#80 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

51. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Sociology

#45 in the United States

#85 in the World

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

52. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#46 in the United States

#86 in the World

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

53. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Sociology

#47 in the United States

#88 in the World

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

54. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Sociology

#48 in the United States

#90 in the World

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

55. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#7 in Canada

#93 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

56. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#8 in Canada

#95 in the World

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

57. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Sociology

#49 in the United States

#97 in the World

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

58. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#9 in Canada

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

59. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Sociology

#50 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

60. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Sociology

#10 in Canada

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

61. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Sociology

#51 in the United States

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

62. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Sociology

#52 in the United States

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

63. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Sociology

#53 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

64. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Sociology

#54 in the United States

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

65. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Sociology

#55 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

66. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Sociology

#56 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

67. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Sociology

#57 in the United States

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

68. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Sociology

#58 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

69. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#59 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

70. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Sociology

#60 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

71. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Sociology

#61 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

72. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Sociology

#11 in Canada

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

73. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Sociology

#62 in the United States

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

74. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Sociology

#63 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

75. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Sociology

#64 in the United States

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

76. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Sociology

#65 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

77. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Sociology

#66 in the United States

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

78. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Sociology

#67 in the United States

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

79. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Sociology

#68 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

80. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Sociology

#12 in Canada

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

81. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Sociology

#69 in the United States

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

82. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#70 in the United States

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

83. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#71 in the United States

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

84. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Sociology

#72 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

85. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Sociology

#73 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

86. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Sociology

#74 in the United States

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

87. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Sociology

#75 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

88. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Sociology

#76 in the United States

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

89. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Sociology

#77 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

90. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Sociology

#13 in Canada

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

91. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Sociology

#78 in the United States

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

92. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Sociology

#79 in the United States

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

93. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Sociology

#80 in the United States

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

94. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Sociology

#81 in the United States

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

95. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Sociology

#82 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

96. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Sociology

#83 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

97. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Sociology

#14 in Canada

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 29,800
Founded: 1877

98. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Sociology

#84 in the United States

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

99. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Sociology

#85 in the United States

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

100. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Sociology

#15 in Canada

#180 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in North America

Anthropology1028

Archaeology1392

Broadcast Journalism318

Classics and Ancient History792

Communications and Public Relations860

Criminology and Criminal Justice557

Early Childhood Education431

Education Majors1108

Forensic Science242

Gender Studies752

Human Rights Law299

Intellectual Property and Patent Law283

International Law286

International Relations and Diplomacy326

Journalism and Digital Media377

Law Enforcement395

Library and Information science966

Linguistics1330

Media Studies596

Military science480

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution318

Occupational Safety and Health340

Political Economy437

Political Science1686

Public Policy / Administration508

Radio and Television broadcasting317

Special Education395

Sports / Exercise science319

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies1150

Urban and Regional planning220