2026 Best Sociology Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Sociology associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1161 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Sociology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is Santa Rosa Junior College, our #1 Sociology school in the United States. This public school is set in Santa Rosa, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete their Sociology program here. Read more about Santa Rosa Junior College
You'll be in good company at Central New Mexico Community College, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Albuquerque, NM. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical Sociology student debt is $10,112. Get the full Central New Mexico Community College report
A rank of #3 makes South Dakota State University one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Sociology program here. Read more about South Dakota State University
Wright State University Lake Campus came in at #4 on this year's Sociology ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Celina, OH. About 35% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,372, with out-of-state students paying around $17,072. Students borrow a median of $27,522 to complete their Sociology program here. See the full Wright State University Lake Campus profile
A rank of #5 makes East Los Angeles College one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Monterey Park, CA, East Los Angeles College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. The median Sociology program debt is $8,180. Read more about East Los Angeles College
College Of Western Idaho ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. This public school is set in Nampa, ID. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,446, compared with $7,454 for out-of-state students. The median Sociology program debt is $12,497. Get the full College Of Western Idaho report
Barstow Community College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Barstow, CA, Barstow Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,104, while out-of-state students pay about $9,744. Typical Sociology student debt is $5,588. More on Barstow Community College
American River College placed #8 among Sociology schools in the United States. Set in Sacramento, CA, American River College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Typical Sociology student debt is $14,105. More on American River College
Lane College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Jackson, TN, Lane College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lane College graduates 18% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,790. Typical Sociology student debt is $40,472. More on Lane College
Antelope Valley College placed #10 among Sociology schools in the United States. Set in Lancaster, CA, Antelope Valley College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,124, while out-of-state students pay about $9,548. Typical Sociology student debt is $10,062. Read the full report on Antelope Valley College
Butte College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, compared with $9,276 for out-of-state students. The median Sociology program debt is $13,302. More on Butte College
Mt San Jacinto Community College District landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in San Jacinto, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $1,448, compared with $12,728 for out-of-state students. The median Sociology program debt is $8,770. See the full Mt San Jacinto Community College District profile
Alabama A And M University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Read more about Alabama A And M University
Bradley University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Read more about Bradley University
Fordham University landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Fordham University
Los Angeles Pierce College placed #16 among Sociology schools in the United States. Read more about Los Angeles Pierce College
Salisbury University did well this year, earning the #17 position. More on Salisbury University
Southern University And A And M College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Southern University And A And M College
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College placed #19 among Sociology schools in the United States. See the full Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College profile
Ellsworth Community College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Ellsworth Community College report
Brown University
Brown University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Read the full report on Brown University
Coastal Carolina University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Read the full report on Coastal Carolina University
Los Angeles Valley College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Read more about Los Angeles Valley College
Los Medanos College placed #24 among Sociology schools in the United States. See the full Los Medanos College profile
Manchester College placed #25 among Sociology schools in the United States. More on Manchester College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Sociology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Morgan State University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Read the full report on Morgan State University
Oregon State University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Oregon State University report
Brigham Young University Idaho placed #28 among Sociology schools in the United States. See the full Brigham Young University Idaho profile
Hampshire College placed #29 among Sociology schools in the United States. Read more about Hampshire College
Indiana University Northwest placed #30 among Sociology schools in the United States. Get the full Indiana University Northwest report
Los Angeles Mission College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Read more about Los Angeles Mission College
Montana State University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. See the full Montana State University profile
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. More on University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of North Georgia landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of North Georgia
University Of South Carolina Beaufort ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Beaufort
Widener University Main Campus placed #36 among Sociology schools in the United States. Get the full Widener University Main Campus report
Bridgewater State University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. More on Bridgewater State University
Clark Atlanta University placed #38 among Sociology schools in the United States. See the full Clark Atlanta University profile
College Of Southern Idaho ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. See the full College Of Southern Idaho profile
Community College Of Aurora landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. See the full Community College Of Aurora profile
Marshalltown Community College did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Marshalltown Community College
Mcmurry University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Mcmurry University report
Northwestern University placed #43 among Sociology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Northwestern University
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Get the full The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin report
University Of Louisville ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Read the full report on University Of Louisville
Orange Coast College did well this year, earning the #46 position. Read more about Orange Coast College
Rust College
Rust College placed #47 among Sociology schools in the United States. More on Rust College
University Of Baltimore came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Baltimore report
University Of Houston did well this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full University Of Houston report
University Of Montevallo ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Read more about University Of Montevallo
Related Sociology Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Sociology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Sociology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1161 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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