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2026 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in Illinois

[Sociology & Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology-and-anthropology/sociology-and-anthropology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sociology & anthropology education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for sociology & anthropology students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools in Illinois

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sociology & anthropology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Sociology & Anthropology Schools

1

Knox College
Galesburg, IL

$57,903 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$54,820 Median Earnings (10yr)

Knox College earned the #1 spot for value among sociology & anthropology schools in Illinois. Located in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,903 in tuition and fees. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sociology & Anthropology graduates of Knox College earn a median of $26,350 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.

2

Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL

$56,402 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,661 Avg Student Debt

$61,825 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Lake Forest College one of the best values for sociology & anthropology. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,402. Sociology & Anthropology graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans. Early-career sociology & anthropology graduates make about $41,168. That is a strong return on a $26,661 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.

View All Sociology & Anthropology Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.