Ranking of Sociology Graduate Programs

The rankings below have been generated just for you using the priorities you set on this page. You can change your priorities or get rankings for a different field.


How to Read Your Ranking

  • Programs are ranked by their score, a weighted sum of the items you chose. (Details)
  • Descriptions of each item are listed at the bottom of the page. (You can also see a description by mousing over items at the top of the table.)
  • Your weight for each item is shown beneath the item at the top of the table. Weights range in magnitude from 0 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
  • A positive weight means that you prefer larger values for the item. A negative weight means that you prefer smaller values for the item.
  • Green values are at least one standard deviation better than the mean. Red values are at least one standard deviation worse than the mean.
  • Data sources can be found below.

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Your Ranking of Sociology Graduate Schools

Click on a program to see a detailed profile
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
1.Sociology and Rural Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison36.77.983%4.69.64.7$12,64017.4693.271%650615
2.Sociology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor24.37.274%4.115.14.4$14,39912.4364.557%680640
3.Sociology, University of Chicago22.77.981%4.317.24.8$17,97713.4256.240%715725
4.Sociology, Duke University22.06.2100%3.425.83.4$16,3614.6192.622%725705
5.Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill21.96.592%4.011.14.3$13,2887.4253.136%650640
6.Demography Graduate Group (Soc. Dept.), University of Pennsylvania20.76.168%3.710.64.0$18,17110.0311.921%725705
6.Sociology, University of Pennsylvania20.76.168%3.710.64.0$18,17110.0311.921%725705
8.Sociology, The University of Texas at Austin18.36.265%3.67.73.6$18,42613.6381.551%630605
9.Sociology, University of Washington-Seattle Campus15.36.779%3.78.84.0$12,6266.4302.567%610590
10.Sociology, Indiana University-Bloomington14.46.993%3.96.63.9$13,2167.2302.585%560550
11.Sociology, Stanford University14.36.789%3.89.54.1$17,0845.6155.112%735720
12.Sociology, University of Maryland-College Park13.85.781%3.07.93.1$14,3825.2291.749%650625
13.Sociology, University of California-Los Angeles13.78.773%3.810.04.4$28,90012.0731.923%665630
14.Sociology, Princeton University13.46.795%3.32.53.8$17,8055.2181.411%745735
15.Sociology, Brown University13.05.769%3.27.02.8$16,2026.2232.715%725710
16.Rural Sociology, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus12.55.868%3.57.13.5$13,8125.8271.258%610580
16.Sociology, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus12.55.868%3.57.13.5$13,8125.8271.258%610580
18.Sociology, Johns Hopkins University11.06.792%3.510.23.6$16,0053.8112.935%705680
19.Sociology & Anthropology, Purdue University-Main Campus10.66.577%2.41.92.4$12,05610.4332.185%590555
20.Social Policy, Harvard University10.47.583%3.67.34.2$17,4254.6174.89%745745
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
20.Sociology, Harvard University10.47.583%3.67.34.2$17,4254.6174.89%745745
22.Sociology & Criminology, University of Delaware10.25.7100%1.94.22.0$10,2902.2250.547%610595
22.Sociology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign10.27.383%3.18.43.3$14,7144.0351.468%675615
24.Sociology, University of Florida10.15.764%2.76.52.7$14,4265.0350.657%640620
25.Sociology, Baylor University10.04.297%*2.6*5.8*2.7*$13,4771.422*2.6*66%605595
26.Development Sociology, Cornell University9.95.981%3.16.83.0$16,9695.6121.927%710675
26.Sociology, Cornell University9.95.981%3.16.83.0$16,9695.6121.927%710675
28.Sociology, University of Nebraska at Lincoln9.66.196%2.67.92.0$11,6444.8181.375%605595
29.Sociology, Yale University8.77.050%3.016.73.5$16,5264.0182.810%740740
30.Sociology, Northwestern University8.48.774%3.67.84.1$17,2406.0252.830%715695
31.Sociology, Ohio State University-Main Campus8.37.282%3.26.93.3$15,0726.8322.873%580560
32.Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University7.86.792%2.6*5.8*2.7*$16,0053.822*2.6*35%705680
33.Sociology, SUNY at Albany6.88.768%3.210.13.2$12,5959.0243.356%575555
34.Sociology, Washington State University6.26.779%3.05.53.1$13,8545.8262.574%560545
35.Sociology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities5.88.270%3.27.23.3$12,8055.4251.770%630600
36.Rural Sociology, South Dakota State University5.74.863%2.6*5.8*2.7*$13,6844.622*2.6*93%623*605*
36.Sociology, University of Arizona5.77.787%3.44.23.8$12,8635.8193.188%565560
36.Sociology, Vanderbilt University5.76.986%2.93.83.3$17,0563.6171.735%695675
39.Sociology, University of Notre Dame5.67.770%2.63.42.6$14,9926.6232.032%700685
40.Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, Kansas State University5.45.285%2.6*5.8*2.7*$15,9272.222*2.6*48%623*605*
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
41.Sociology, University of Georgia5.25.967%2.63.82.6$12,5004.0201.362%615610
42.Sociology, Emory University5.17.9100%2.6*5.8*2.7*$16,2963.422*2.6*39%700680
43.Sociology, Iowa State University4.65.570%2.86.42.2$17,9195.2351.490%620595
44.Sociology, Boston University4.47.771%2.626.82.7$17,2371.8232.555%655645
45.Sociology, Boston College3.67.958%2.514.82.3$14,2666.0173.731%680655
46.Sociology, Wayne State University3.06.763%2.6*5.8*2.7*$12,6434.022*2.6*63%623*605*
47.Sociology, Case Western Reserve University2.86.986%2.6*5.8*2.7*$14,7361.422*2.6*68%690650
48.Sociology, Stony Brook University2.68.277%3.33.53.3$12,3703.2233.251%610570
48.Sociology, University of California-Berkeley2.68.280%3.62.34.6$29,41410.6333.325%685645
50.Sociology, University of Miami2.36.980%2.6*5.8*2.7*$15,2552.622*2.6*46%640620
51.Sociology, Cornell University-Ny State Statutory Colleges2.07.3*72%*2.6*5.8*2.7*$15,051*2.222*2.6*30%680665
51.Sociology, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway2.08.083%2.6*5.8*2.7*$14,9825.822*2.6*61%615580
53.Sociology - SOCI, University of Kentucky1.76.862%2.42.42.4$12,0085.6262.079%575565
54.Sociology, New York University1.38.075%2.91.83.3$18,3575.8212.437%665665
55.Sociology, University of Colorado at Boulder1.07.166%2.34.72.3$16,0359.8223.288%600580
56.Sociology, Florida State University0.17.779%3.04.03.0$14,9293.2222.162%585575
56.Sociology, University of California-San Francisco0.16.283%2.625.72.5$25,283*2.6171.857%*623*605*
58.Gerontology, University of Southern California-0.18.272%2.73.62.8$16,5725.2194.227%690665
58.Sociology (excluding Criminology), University of Southern California-0.18.272%2.73.62.8$16,5725.2194.227%690665
60.Sociology, Columbia University in the City of New York-0.28.169%3.33.83.8$27,0729.8194.213%725715
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
61.Sociology, University of Virginia-Main Campus-0.57.861%2.53.02.6$13,4054.4142.438%670655
62.Sociology, Michigan State University-0.79.678%2.73.92.7$11,0065.8263.976%585555
63.Sociology, Brigham Young University-1.38.971%2.6*5.8*2.7*$9,7901.822*2.6*78%620605
64.Sociology, SUNY at Binghamton-1.58.869%2.81.53.0$12,0937.2138.043%650615
65.Sociology, University of Akron Main Campus-1.86.988%1.62.21.3$12,2982.0171.257%*623*605*
66.Sociology, Tulane University of Louisiana-1.96.175%1.73.91.9$15,8792.4132.645%680670
67.Sociology, Syracuse University-2.45.258%2.51.82.2$17,6574.0192.365%620595
68.Sociology, University of Illinois at Chicago-2.57.767%2.45.72.7$15,4762.2270.958%605570
69.Sociology, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus-3.15.775%*2.02.62.0$14,1352.0131.072%570560
70.Sociology, Mississippi State University-3.27.986%1.50.81.3$11,9084.8162.169%623*605*
71.Sociology, University of Kansas Main Campus-3.38.575%2.12.82.1$11,5333.2161.369%623*605*
72.Sociology, The University of Tennessee-3.55.771%1.21.31.6$13,7744.2131.544%555555
73.Sociology, Western Michigan University-3.66.776%1.50.41.3$12,1643.4181.685%623*605*
74.Sociology - SOC, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University-3.75.758%2.6*5.8*2.7*$18,4842.422*2.6*72%615585
75.Sociology, University of Connecticut-4.18.175%2.20.92.5$14,7903.0262.551%600585
76.Demography, University of California-Berkeley-4.28.280%2.6*5.8*2.7*$29,41410.622*2.6*25%685645
77.Sociology, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus-4.37.271%2.23.52.2$14,9472.0172.649%625610
78.Sociology, Teachers College at Columbia University-4.47.3*75%*2.6*5.8*2.7*$17,749*1.222*2.6*57%*623*605*
79.Sociology, University of Alabama at Birmingham-4.96.562%2.6*5.8*2.7*$17,1863.222*2.6*88%570560
80.Rural Sociology, University of Missouri-Columbia-5.28.965%2.11.92.1$12,2686.2172.183%595600
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
80.Sociology, University of Missouri-Columbia-5.28.965%2.11.92.1$12,2686.2172.183%595600
82.Sociology, Florida International University-5.45.936%2.6*5.8*2.7*$17,5814.622*2.6*61%550555
83.Sociology, Northeastern University-5.69.753%2.011.32.0$15,7396.0241.447%625605
84.Sociology, SUNY at Buffalo-5.76.753%1.74.51.8$11,9593.8123.356%595565
85.Sociology, University of California-San Diego-5.88.074%3.02.03.3$26,9315.0341.439%655605
86.Sociology, University of New Mexico-Main Campus-6.16.831%2.6*5.8*2.7*$12,2642.822*2.6*74%535540
87.Sociology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale-6.36.775%1.41.61.6$11,6363.8111.677%520520
88.Sociology, University of South Carolina-Columbia-6.76.785%2.6*5.8*2.7*$24,1963.822*2.6*67%580570
89.Sociology, Texas A & M University-7.17.258%2.74.52.5$22,2285.4251.870%615585
90.Sociology and Anthropology, Loyola University Chicago-7.47.582%2.00.52.0$14,2624.4105.274%585590
91.Sociology, Brandeis University-7.78.473%2.32.52.2$15,3162.4115.340%675675
92.Sociology, University of California-Santa Barbara-7.88.279%3.111.23.3$29,7966.4252.653%600580
93.Sociology, American University-7.96.959%1.40.61.5$15,6736.0134.451%625645
94.Sociology and Anthropology, Howard University-8.26.937%1.81.41.6$11,1404.0142.447%565560
95.Sociology, University of Oregon-9.08.756%2.22.72.3$13,2844.4212.291%560555
96.Sociology and Social Work, Texas Woman's University-9.26.547%2.6*5.8*2.7*$16,6872.422*2.6*64%480485
97.Sociology, Bowling Green State University-Main Campus-9.85.756%1.61.01.6$15,881*3.4201.290%515515
98.Sociology (including Criminal Justice), Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College-9.96.968%2.21.92.1$21,5103.2241.178%600575
99.Sociology, The New School-10.08.767%2.6*5.8*2.7*$26,4709.822*2.6*51%560565
100.Sociology (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center-10.79.463%2.60.82.9$21,795*10.8239.357%*623*605*
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
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101.Sociology, University of Nevada-Las Vegas-10.89.777%*2.6*5.8*2.7*$14,868*2.022*2.6*81%515500
102.Sociology, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus-11.07.680%1.17.71.2$17,2043.0112.386%623*605*
103.Sociology, Colorado State University-11.67.3*75%*1.51.41.4$14,102*1.2141.488%565555
104.Sociology, University of Iowa-11.77.577%2.96.42.8$27,0184.2171.984%600585
105.Sociology, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus-12.54.975%0.70.20.6$16,4073.4107.051%565555
106.Sociology, University of California-Riverside-12.77.468%2.94.63.3$27,9766.2182.274%565510
107.Sociology, Temple University-12.88.156%2.02.92.2$18,7523.8252.563%550540
108.Sociology, University of Massachusetts-Amherst-13.010.771%2.93.82.8$17,6453.4232.980%575565
109.Sociology, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus-13.16.086%0.91.11.3$17,5471.292.377%565545
110.Sociology, North Carolina State University at Raleigh-13.28.765%2.43.82.1$25,4866.0282.059%615580
111.Sociology, Utah State University-13.58.769%1.31.71.1$13,1623.2150.792%555550
112.Native American Studies, University of California-Davis-13.98.571%2.6*5.8*2.7*$28,0435.822*2.6*55%615565
112.Sociology, University of Hawaii at Manoa-13.98.736%1.20.51.6$10,3303.4191.765%570535
114.Sociology, University of North Texas-14.17.863%1.20.31.1$17,1355.2181.869%555545
115.Sociology, University of California-Davis-14.78.571%2.6*5.8*2.7*$28,0435.022*2.6*55%615565
116.Sociology, University of Utah-15.99.777%*1.50.11.3$13,098*0.6152.486%623*605*
117.Sociology, Georgia State University-17.18.072%1.03.01.1$18,4523.2101.756%550540
118.Sociology, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus-18.06.765%1.73.21.9$23,6923.4153.491%560550
119.Sociology, Fordham University-20.79.156%1.22.11.4$16,4532.0125.150%590600
120.Sociology, University of California-Irvine-20.99.563%2.6*5.8*2.7*$26,9581.222*2.6*52%620580
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
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121.Sociology, Kent State University-Kent Campus-23.110.285%1.12.81.2$17,9523.2133.894%515515
122.Sociology, University of California-Santa Cruz-29.78.769%2.41.02.4$33,9263.4114.169%585580

Item Descriptions

Your Score
Your customized program score is a weighted sum of points for each item. The weights were selected on this page. For an item with importance weight W, a program receives W × S points for being S standard deviations above average. Larger values are better.
Years to Degree (Yrs)
Median time lapse from entering graduate school at the doctorate-granting institution to receipt of doctorate in years. Note that time spent obtaining a master's degree at a different institution is not counted. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)
Placement Rate (Job)
Percentage of doctorate recipients from the program with definite plans at graduation (either a job or a postdoctoral position). Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)
Educational Effectiveness (Ed Eff)
Program effectiveness in educating research scholars and scientists, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not Effective" and 5 denoting "Extremely Effective." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Citations per Faculty Member (Cite / Fac)
The ratio of the number of citations of program publications in the period 1988-1992 to the number of program faculty. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Faculty Quality (Fac Qual)
Scholarly quality of program faculty, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not sufficient for doctoral education" and 5 denoting "Distinguished." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Cost Per Year (Cost / Year)
Low yearly cost (tuition, fees, room and board, other expenses) for an out of state student living on campus. Assumes median tuition remission. Your weight = -5. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)
Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)
The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = 3. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)
Number of Faculty (# Fac)
Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)
The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -1. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)
The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -1. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)
Math SAT Score (SAT-M)
The average of the 25th and 75th percentile mathematics SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)
Verbal SAT Score (SAT-V)
The average of the 25th and 75th percentile verbal SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)
Missing Values
Missing values have been replaced with the average value for all programs in the field.

Data Sources

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
IPEDS is an annual, comprehensive set of surveys of all colleges and universities in the United States. The surveys are conducted by the National Center for Education StatisticsLearn more
National Research Council
The National Research Council conducts assessments of doctoral programs in the United States every 10 to 15 years). The data we use are from the most recent assessment, the 1995 study Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Continuity and Change. Learn more about the NRC study's methods here; order a copy here. The next NRC assessment is scheduled for release in Summer 2009.  Learn more
Survey of Earned Doctorates
The NSF/NIH/NEH/USED/USDA/NASA Survey of Earned Doctorates is an annual survey of all new recipients of doctorates from US universities at graduation. The average of the response rates for the 2000–2004 surveys was 92%.  Learn more
Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering
The Survey is an annual assessment of the number and characteristics of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in science, engineering, and health-related fields. It is conducted by the National Science FoundationLearn more
* Value is missing. The value shown is based on the average for other programs in the same field. Learn more.
Data are for all Sociology degree recipients from the institution and may include graduates from more than one program.
The graduate school rankings on PhDs.org have been made possible by
grants from The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and The Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
The Center for Science and the Media served as the project's fiscal sponsor.