2026 Best Sociology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Sociology graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1161 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Sociology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is Columbia University In The City Of New York, our #1 Sociology school in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. The median Sociology program debt is $31,000. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Appalachian State University came in at #2 on this year's Sociology ranking in the United States. Based in Boone, NC, Appalachian State University is a public institution. Appalachian State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. Students from in state pay about $7,579 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. The median Sociology program debt is $20,606. Get the full Appalachian State University report
The strong Sociology programs at Texas Womans University earned it the #3 place in the United States. This public school is set in Denton, TX. About 49% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. The median Sociology program debt is $33,719. Get the full Texas Womans University report
Oakland University came in at #4 on this year's Sociology ranking in the United States. Based in Rochester Hills, MI, Oakland University is a public institution. Oakland University graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their Sociology program here. Read the full report on Oakland University
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas At Arlington one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Arlington, TX, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Typical Sociology student debt is $30,941. Read more about The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #6 among Sociology schools in the United States. Located in Greensboro, NC, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,988 in student loans. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Greensboro report
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a public school based in Murfreesboro, TN. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Middle Tennessee State University Sociology students take on a median of $23,766 in debt. Read the full report on Middle Tennessee State University
Sam Houston State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Sam Houston State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Typical Sociology student debt is $29,000. More on Sam Houston State University
University Of Kentucky ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Typical Sociology student debt is $26,000. Read more about University Of Kentucky
Clovis Community College Fresno ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Get the full Clovis Community College Fresno report
Brown University
Brown University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about Brown University
Ohio University Eastern Campus came in at #12 in this year's ranking. More on Ohio University Eastern Campus
Pacific University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. See the full Pacific University profile
Rose State College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. See the full Rose State College profile
Saint Leo University landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Saint Leo University
University Of Southern Maine came in at #16 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Southern Maine profile
College Of Alameda came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Get the full College Of Alameda report
Livingstone College placed #18 among Sociology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Livingstone College
The College Of Wooster ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. Read the full report on The College Of Wooster
University Of Washington Seattle Campus did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Wilson College
Wilson College did well this year, earning the #21 position. More on Wilson College
Connors State College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Connors State College
Johnson And Wales University Online landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Johnson And Wales University Online
Midland University placed #24 among Sociology schools in the United States. Read more about Midland University
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Virginia Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best Sociology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Fort Lewis College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Fort Lewis College
Itawamba Community College did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Itawamba Community College
Kirkwood Community College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on Kirkwood Community College
University Of Wyoming landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Wyoming profile
Benedictine College did well this year, earning the #30 position. Read the full report on Benedictine College
Grace College And Theological Seminary placed #31 among Sociology schools in the United States. Get the full Grace College And Theological Seminary report
Morgan State University did well this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Morgan State University report
Rice University
Rice University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Sociology schools. See the full Rice University profile
Willamette University placed #34 among Sociology schools in the United States. Get the full Willamette University report
Carnegie Mellon University placed #35 among Sociology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Carnegie Mellon University
Eastern University did well this year, earning the #36 position. More on Eastern University
Messiah College
Messiah College did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Messiah College profile
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary
Morehouse College landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. See the full Morehouse College profile
North Idaho College did well this year, earning the #40 position. See the full North Idaho College profile
Princeton University did well this year, earning the #41 position. More on Princeton University
San Diego State University did well this year, earning the #42 position. More on San Diego State University
Swarthmore College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Swarthmore College report
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #44 among Sociology schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Illinois At Chicago
University Of South Carolina Upstate came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Upstate
Washington State University placed #46 among Sociology schools in the United States. See the full Washington State University profile
Franklin College
Franklin College did well this year, earning the #47 position. Get the full Franklin College report
Mesa State College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read more about Mesa State College
University Of California Merced did well this year, earning the #49 position. See the full University Of California Merced profile
Voorhees College
Voorhees College came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read more about Voorhees College
Related Sociology Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Sociology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Sociology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Sociology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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