Sociology
Quick Facts: Sociology Training
Where it's offered
Sociology programs are offered at 3 schools across 3 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $29,696/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 1 registered apprenticeship pathway related to Sociology — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 3 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 34/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Sociology Graduates Do
Your career will likely begin in a research-focused role where you’ll spend your days designing surveys, conducting interviews, and using statistical software like SPSS or R to organize and analyze data. You’ll be the person on the ground, gathering the raw information that helps organizations understand human behavior.
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As you gain experience, you can advance into higher-paying management or specialist positions. Many graduates leverage their understanding of group dynamics to become effective managers, leading teams, diagnosing organizational challenges, and presenting solutions to leadership. Others pursue a specialist track as a sociologist, conducting in-depth research for government agencies or consulting firms. While management roles offer the most openings, all paths show stable growth.
It’s true that AI and software tools are changing this field, particularly in automating data collection and initial analysis. However, your expertise remains critical for designing the right questions, interpreting the complex, nuanced meaning behind the numbers, and communicating those human-centric insights to stakeholders. You’ll learn to use AI not as a replacement, but as a powerful assistant to deepen your work.
Students considering Sociology also weigh Social Sciences Studies, Social Sciences, and Criminology — see each trade's earnings and school count side by side.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 1 registered apprenticeship occupation related to Sociology. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer
RAPIDS 2073CB |
Competency | Competency | $100K – $136,550 – $179K | 4.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Sociology Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Sociology is offered at 3 schools across 3 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.
Top Sociology Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Sociology programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
3 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI |
62 59–65 |
| 2 | Davidson College Davidson, NC |
36 32–39 |
| 3 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY |
34 30–37 |
Highest Earning Sociology Programs
Schools where Sociology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | $45,893/yr | 62 |
| Davidson College | $26,303/yr | 36 |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | $16,893/yr | 34 |
Best ROI for Sociology
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Sociology.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 54.6x | $45,893/yr | 62 |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | 15.3x | $16,893/yr | 34 |
| Davidson College | 3.4x | $26,303/yr | 36 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Sociology degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.