2026 Best Value Sociology Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Sociology associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1161 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Sociology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Central New Mexico Community College this year in the United States. Located in Albuquerque, NM, Central New Mexico Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Central New Mexico Community College alumni report median earnings of $36,869 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt. More on Central New Mexico Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Rosa Junior College earned it the #2 place in the United States. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public school based in Santa Rosa, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Santa Rosa Junior College alumni report median earnings of $47,224 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Santa Rosa Junior College
A rank of #3 makes South Dakota State University one of the best values in the United States. Located in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical Sociology student debt is $26,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,070. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%. Read the full report on South Dakota State University
A rank of #4 makes College Of Western Idaho one of the best values in the United States. College Of Western Idaho is a public school based in Nampa, ID. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,446, with out-of-state students paying around $7,454. Students borrow a median of $12,497 to complete their Sociology program here. Read more about College Of Western Idaho
Out of the 1161 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, East Los Angeles College landed the #5 spot. Located in Monterey Park, CA, East Los Angeles College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,006. Set against $8,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full East Los Angeles College report
Wright State University Lake Campus landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Celina, OH, Wright State University Lake Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,372, compared with $17,072 for out-of-state students. Wright State University Lake Campus Sociology students take on a median of $27,522 in debt. Median earnings reach $49,500 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Wright State University Lake Campus report
Barstow Community College placed #7 among the best-value Sociology schools in the United States. Barstow Community College is a public school based in Barstow, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,104, with out-of-state students paying around $9,744. Graduates carry a median of $5,588 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $35,104. That is a strong return on a $5,588 median debt. Read the full report on Barstow Community College
Antelope Valley College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Lancaster, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,124, compared with $9,548 for out-of-state students. Antelope Valley College Sociology students take on a median of $10,062 in debt. Median earnings reach $36,526 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $10,062 median debt. Get the full Antelope Valley College report
Butte College placed #9 among the best-value Sociology schools in the United States. Set in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,356 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Students borrow a median of $13,302 to complete their Sociology program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,810 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Butte College profile
American River College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sociology schools. Set in Sacramento, CA, American River College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. The median Sociology program debt is $14,105. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,162. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt. Read more about American River College
Lane College offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Jackson, TN, Lane College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,790. Graduates carry a median of $40,472 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Lane College
Mt San Jacinto Community College District landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public school based in San Jacinto, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,448, with out-of-state students paying around $12,728. Mt San Jacinto Community College District Sociology students take on a median of $8,770 in debt. Mt San Jacinto Community College District alumni report median earnings of $38,319 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Mt San Jacinto Community College District profile
Campbellsville University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read more about Campbellsville University
Delaware County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Delaware County Community College
Fort Hays State University offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Fort Hays State University profile
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #16 among the best-value Sociology schools in the United States. See the full Glendale Community College Glendale Az profile
Kings College
Kings College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Kings College profile
Lesley University placed #18 among the best-value Sociology schools in the United States. Read more about Lesley University
Palo Verde College placed #19 among the best-value Sociology schools in the United States. See the full Palo Verde College profile
University Of Central Missouri came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Central Missouri profile
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown report
Vermont Technical College placed #22 among the best-value Sociology schools in the United States. More on Vermont Technical College
Barton County Community College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Barton County Community College report
Bryn Mawr College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on Bryn Mawr College
Framingham State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sociology schools. Get the full Framingham State University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Sociology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Gallaudet University landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Gallaudet University report
Midland University offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Midland University profile
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Prairie View A And M University came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. See the full Prairie View A And M University profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile
Duke University
Duke University offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Duke University
George Washington University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sociology schools. See the full George Washington University profile
Muskingum University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sociology schools. See the full Muskingum University profile
Quinsigamond Community College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Quinsigamond Community College report
Saint Vincent College landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Saint Vincent College
Santa Monica College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Santa Monica College profile
Alice Lloyd College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. More on Alice Lloyd College
Boston University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Boston University
East Georgia State College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. More on East Georgia State College
Linfield College
Linfield College came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Linfield College report
Riverside City College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sociology schools. See the full Riverside City College profile
Susquehanna University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sociology schools. Get the full Susquehanna University report
University Of Toledo placed #43 among the best-value Sociology schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Toledo
Abilene Christian University came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Abilene Christian University
Cleveland State University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sociology schools. Read more about Cleveland State University
Davidson College
Davidson College landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Davidson College
Eastern Mennonite University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sociology schools. See the full Eastern Mennonite University profile
Saint Leo University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Saint Leo University report
Southeastern Louisiana University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Southeastern Louisiana University
Texas Lutheran University landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Texas Lutheran University report
Related Sociology Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Sociology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Sociology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Sociology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Sociology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Sociology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Sociology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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