100 Best colleges for Sociology in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 192M citations received by 5.33M academic papers made by 1,600 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Sociology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Sociology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

4. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Sociology

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

5. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Sociology

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Sociology

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

7. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Sociology

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

8. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Sociology

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Sociology

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

10. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Sociology

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

11. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Sociology

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

12. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Sociology

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Sociology

#15 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

14. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Sociology

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

15. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Sociology

#17 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Sociology

#18 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

17. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Sociology

#19 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

18. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Sociology

#20 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Sociology

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
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: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

21. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Sociology

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

22. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Sociology

#24 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

23. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Sociology

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

24. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Sociology

#26 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

25. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Sociology

#27 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

26. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Sociology

#28 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

27. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Sociology

#30 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

28. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Sociology

#31 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

29. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Sociology

#32 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

30. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Sociology

#33 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Sociology

#34 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

32. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Sociology

#35 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

33. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Sociology

#36 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

34. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Sociology

#37 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

35. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Sociology

#38 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

36. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Sociology

#39 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

37. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sociology

#41 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

38. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Sociology

#42 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

39. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Sociology

#43 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

40. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Sociology

#44 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

41. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Sociology

#46 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

42. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Sociology

#47 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

43. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Sociology

#48 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

44. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Sociology

#49 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

45. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Sociology

#50 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

46. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Sociology

#52 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

47. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Sociology

#53 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

48. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Sociology

#54 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

49. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Sociology

#57 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

50. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Sociology

#58 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

51. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Sociology

#60 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

52. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Sociology

#61 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

53. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Sociology

#63 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

54. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Sociology

#64 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

55. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Sociology

#65 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

56. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Sociology

#66 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

57. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Sociology

#67 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

58. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Sociology

#68 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

59. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Sociology

#69 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

60. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Sociology

#70 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

61. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Sociology

#71 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

62. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Sociology

#72 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

63. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Sociology

#74 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

64. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Sociology

#75 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

65. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Sociology

#76 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

66. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Sociology

#77 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

67. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Sociology

#78 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

68. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Sociology

#79 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

69. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Sociology

#81 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

70. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Sociology

#82 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

71. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Sociology

#83 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

72. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Sociology

#84 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

73. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Sociology

#85 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

74. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Sociology

#86 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

75. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Sociology

#87 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

76. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Sociology

#88 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

77. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Sociology

#89 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

78. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Sociology

#90 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

79. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sociology

#91 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

80. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Sociology

#94 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

81. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Sociology

#95 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

82. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Sociology

#96 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

83. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sociology

#97 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

84. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Sociology

#98 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

85. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Sociology

#99 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

86. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Sociology

#100 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

87. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Sociology

#101 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

88. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Sociology

#103 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

89. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Sociology

#104 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

90. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Sociology

#106 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

91. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Sociology

#107 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

92. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Sociology

#108 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

93. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Sociology

#109 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

94. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Sociology

#110 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

95. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Sociology

#111 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1187
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 76%

96. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Sociology

#112 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

97. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Sociology

#113 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

98. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Sociology

#116 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

99. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Sociology

#117 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

100. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Sociology

#118 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

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.