100 Best colleges for Sociology in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Sociology. A graph of 132M citations received by 4.69M academic papers made by 1,557 universities in the United States 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

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Sociology

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Sociology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Sociology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Sociology

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

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

5. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Sociology

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

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

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Sociology

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

7. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Sociology

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

8. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Sociology

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Sociology

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

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

10. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Sociology

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Sociology

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

12. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Sociology

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

13. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Sociology

#15 in North America

#18 in the World

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

14. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Sociology

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

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

15. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Sociology

#17 in North America

#20 in the World

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

16. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Sociology

#18 in North America

#21 in the World

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

17. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Sociology

#19 in North America

#22 in the World

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

18. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Sociology

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Sociology

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

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

20. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Sociology

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

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

21. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Sociology

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

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

22. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Sociology

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

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

23. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Sociology

#25 in North America

#30 in the World

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

24. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Sociology

#26 in North America

#34 in the World

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

25. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Sociology

#27 in North America

#35 in the World

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

26. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Sociology

#29 in North America

#38 in the World

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

27. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Sociology

#30 in North America

#39 in the World

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

28. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Sociology

#31 in North America

#40 in the World

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

29. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Sociology

#32 in North America

#41 in the World

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

30. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Sociology

#33 in North America

#44 in the World

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

31. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Sociology

#34 in North America

#45 in the World

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

32. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Sociology

#35 in North America

#46 in the World

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

33. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Sociology

#36 in North America

#47 in the World

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

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Sociology

#37 in North America

#50 in the World

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

35. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sociology

#38 in North America

#52 in the World

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

36. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Sociology

#40 in North America

#54 in the World

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

37. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Sociology

#41 in North America

#59 in the World

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

38. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Sociology

#42 in North America

#66 in the World

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

39. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Sociology

#43 in North America

#69 in the World

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

40. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Sociology

#44 in North America

#72 in the World

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

41. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Sociology

#45 in North America

#74 in the World

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

42. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Sociology

#47 in North America

#77 in the World

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

43. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Sociology

#48 in North America

#78 in the World

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

44. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Sociology

#49 in North America

#79 in the World

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

45. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Sociology

#51 in North America

#85 in the World

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

46. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Sociology

#52 in North America

#86 in the World

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

47. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Sociology

#53 in North America

#88 in the World

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

48. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Sociology

#54 in North America

#90 in the World

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

49. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Sociology

#57 in North America

#97 in the World

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

50. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Sociology

#59 in North America

#102 in the World

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

51. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Sociology

#61 in North America

#105 in the World

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

52. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Sociology

#62 in North America

#108 in the World

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

53. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Sociology

#63 in North America

#109 in the World

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

54. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Sociology

#64 in North America

#110 in the World

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

55. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Sociology

#65 in North America

#111 in the World

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

56. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Sociology

#66 in North America

#114 in the World

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

57. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Sociology

#67 in North America

#115 in the World

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

58. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Sociology

#68 in North America

#116 in the World

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

59. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Sociology

#69 in North America

#117 in the World

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

60. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Sociology

#70 in North America

#119 in the World

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

61. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Sociology

#71 in North America

#124 in the World

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

62. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Sociology

#73 in North America

#126 in the World

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

63. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Sociology

#74 in North America

#128 in the World

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

64. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Sociology

#75 in North America

#129 in the World

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

65. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Sociology

#76 in North America

#130 in the World

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

66. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Sociology

#77 in North America

#131 in the World

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

67. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Sociology

#78 in North America

#137 in the World

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

68. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Sociology

#79 in North America

#138 in the World

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

69. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Sociology

#81 in North America

#140 in the World

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

70. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Sociology

#82 in North America

#142 in the World

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

71. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Sociology

#83 in North America

#145 in the World

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

72. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Sociology

#84 in North America

#149 in the World

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

73. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Sociology

#85 in North America

#150 in the World

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

74. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Sociology

#86 in North America

#152 in the World

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

75. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Sociology

#87 in North America

#154 in the World

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

76. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Sociology

#88 in North America

#156 in the World

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

77. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Sociology

#89 in North America

#157 in the World

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

78. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sociology

#91 in North America

#162 in the World

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

79. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Sociology

#92 in North America

#163 in the World

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

80. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Sociology

#93 in North America

#166 in the World

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

81. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Sociology

#94 in North America

#168 in the World

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

82. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Sociology

#95 in North America

#171 in the World

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

83. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Sociology

#96 in North America

#173 in the World

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

84. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Sociology

#98 in North America

#178 in the World

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

85. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sociology

#99 in North America

#179 in the World

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

86. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Sociology

#101 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

87. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Sociology

#102 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

88. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Sociology

#103 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

89. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Sociology

#104 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

90. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Sociology

#105 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

91. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Sociology

#106 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

92. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Sociology

#107 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

93. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Sociology

#109 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

94. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Sociology

#110 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

95. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Sociology

#111 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

96. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Sociology

#112 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 80%

97. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Sociology

#113 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

98. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Sociology

#114 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

99. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Sociology

#115 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

100. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Sociology

#116 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

The best cities to study Sociology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Ann Arbor, Stanford, and Seattle.