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Most Popular Sociology Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Sociology Schools in California

174 Colleges
$32,847 Avg Salary
$18,490 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Sociology School for You

Sociology is one of the most popular subjects to study in California. With 15,498 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 6th out of all the majors we track in the state.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Sociology Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 174 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Sociology program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Sociology Colleges.

Our analysis found University of California - Los Angeles to be the most popular school for sociology students who want to pursue a degree in California. UCLA is a fairly large public school located in the city of Los Angeles.

Sociology majors at UCLA take out an average of $15,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $223.

Full Sociology at University of California - Los Angeles Report

Out of the 174 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the # 2 spot on the list. UCSB is a fairly large public school located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara.

After completing their degree, sociology graduates from UCSB carry an average student debt load of $15,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $233, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Sociology at University of California - Santa Barbara

Out of the 174 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Northridge landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Northridge, CSUN is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Sociology majors at CSUN take out an average of $12,531 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Sociology at California State University - Northridge

The excellent programs at University of California - Riverside helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best sociology schools in California. UCR is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside.

Sociology majors at UCR take out an average of $18,013 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $112, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Sociology at University of California - Riverside Report

Out of the 174 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public school with a very large student population.

Sociology majors at Cal State LA take out an average of $12,273 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Sociology at California State University - Los Angeles

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for sociology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Cal State Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton.

Sociology majors at Cal State Fullerton take out an average of $14,313 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

University of California - Berkeley came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Sociology Schools in California ranking. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public school located in the city of Berkeley.

On average, sociology graduates from UC Berkeley take out $13,305 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $264.

Full Sociology at University of California - Berkeley Report

Mt. San Antonio College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular sociology programs. Mt. SAC is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut.

Read full report on Sociology at Mt. San Antonio College

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for sociology students. It came in at #9 on the list. CSULB is a fairly large public school located in the city of Long Beach.

On average, sociology graduates from CSULB take out $12,979 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Sociology at California State University - Long Beach

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Irvine did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for sociology students. UC Irvine is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Irvine.

After completing their degree, sociology graduates from UC Irvine carry an average student debt load of $15,073. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $160.

Full Sociology at University of California - Irvine Report

California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for sociology students. It came in at #11 on the list. CSUDH is a large public school located in the city of Carson.

After completing their degree, sociology graduates from CSUDH carry an average student debt load of $14,950.

Full Sociology at California State University - Dominguez Hills Report

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for sociology students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, sociology majors at Sac State accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $142.

Full Sociology at California State University - Sacramento Report

With a ranking of #13, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for sociology students. Located in the large suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public college with a large student population.

While working on their degree, sociology majors at CSUSM accumulate an average of around $14,751 in student debt.

Full Sociology at California State University - San Marcos Report

University of California - Davis came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Sociology Schools in California ranking. UC Davis is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Davis.

While working on their degree, sociology majors at UC Davis accumulate an average of around $12,468 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $233, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular sociology programs. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, sociology majors at UC Santa Cruz accumulate an average of around $18,500 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $158, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

With a ranking of #16, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for sociology students. Located in the large suburb of Pomona, Cal Poly Pomona is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, sociology graduates from Cal Poly Pomona take out $12,979 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

With a ranking of #17, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for sociology students. Located in the city of San Bernardino, CSUSB is a public school with a large student population.

Sociology majors at CSUSB take out an average of $13,022 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Sociology at California State University - San Bernardino

California State University - East Bay ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Sociology Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Cal State East Bay is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, sociology graduates from Cal State East Bay take out $17,600 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Sociology at California State University - East Bay

#19

Fullerton College

Fullerton, CA

Fullerton College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Sociology Schools in California ranking. Fullerton College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton.

Read full report on Sociology at Fullerton College

#20

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for sociology students. It came in at #20 on the list. San Jose State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of San Jose.

Read full report on Sociology at San Jose State University

With a ranking of #21, California State University - Channel Islands did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for sociology students. CSUCI is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize suburb of Camarillo.

After completing their degree, sociology graduates from CSUCI carry an average student debt load of $16,860.

Full Sociology at California State University - Channel Islands Report

California State University - Chico came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Sociology Schools in California ranking. Chico State is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Chico.

Sociology majors at Chico State take out an average of $16,518 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Sociology at California State University - Chico Report

#22

Long Beach City College

Long Beach, CA

Long Beach City College ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Sociology Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read More…

#24

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

Citrus College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for sociology students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Full Sociology at Citrus College Report

#25

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, CA

East Los Angeles College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Sociology Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a public school with a very large student population.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Sociology Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
27 University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CA
28 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
29 The University of Arizona Global Campus San Diego, CA
29 Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA
31 California State University - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA
31 California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA
33 Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CA
34 San Diego State University San Diego, CA

Best Sociology Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Sociology Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 650
Oregon 341
Nevada 120
Hawaii 96
Alaska 5

Sociology is one of 12 different types of programs to choose from.

Majors Similar to Sociology

Related Major Annual Graduates
Political Science & Government 49,282
Economics 49,055
General Social Sciences 18,997
International Relations & National Security 14,306
Anthropology 11,415

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Kontos.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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