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2026 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in Pennsylvania

[Sociology & Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology-and-anthropology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for sociology & anthropology students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in Pennsylvania

2026 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in Pennsylvania

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sociology & anthropology, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools

1

Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA

$65,494 In-State Tuition & Fees

$19,500 Avg Student Debt

$80,257 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Swarthmore College the best value for a degree in sociology & anthropology in Pennsylvania. Set in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,494. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $66,971. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Swarthmore College admits about 8% of applicants.

2

Lafayette College
Easton, PA

$64,648 In-State Tuition & Fees

$17,549 Avg Student Debt

$91,410 Median Earnings (10yr)

Lafayette College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology & anthropology schools. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,648. Typical student debt for sociology & anthropology graduates is $17,549. Soon after graduation, sociology & anthropology degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $43,321. That is a strong return on a $17,549 median debt. Lafayette College admits about 31% of applicants.

View All Sociology & Anthropology Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked 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 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.