2027 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 52 schools to find the best return on investment for sociology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sociology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sociology Schools
For return on investment in sociology, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $19,315. Early-career sociology graduates make about $34,435. That is a strong return on a $19,315 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sociology will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,568 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $33,832. That is a strong return on a $18,568 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University East came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Sociology graduates carry a median of $24,098 in student loans. Sociology graduates of Indiana University East earn a median of $49,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,098 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $20,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Chicago earned it the #5 place for sociology. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $15,854. Early-career sociology graduates make about $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #6 among the best values for sociology. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Students borrow a median of $24,539 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $30,939. That is a strong return on a $24,539 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Wayne State University came in at #7 for value in sociology this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Sociology graduates carry a median of $30,422 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $31,381. That is a strong return on a $30,422 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Dominican University landed the #8 spot for sociology value this year. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,828. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,000. Sociology graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $31,657 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #9 among the best values for sociology. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Students borrow a median of $26,125 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $41,152. Set against $26,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for sociology. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $36,826. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #11 position for value in sociology this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $21,154 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $31,548 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside earned the #12 position for value in sociology this year. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,270, compared with $17,429 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Parkside generally make around $35,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Eastern Illinois University placed #13 among the best values for sociology. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $25,817. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $39,547. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University came in at #14 for value in sociology this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $30,478. Sociology graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $47,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,478 median debt. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value sociology schools. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Students borrow a median of $24,619 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. Set against $24,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University landed the #16 spot for sociology value this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Sociology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $35,150. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #17 among the best values for sociology. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,968 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $37,888. That is a strong return on a $25,968 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #18 spot for sociology value this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Sociology graduates carry a median of $19,464 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $30,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Ball State University earned the #19 position for value in sociology this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Students borrow a median of $22,198 to complete the sociology program here. Early-career sociology graduates make about $32,973. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Cleveland State University earned the #20 position for value in sociology this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Sociology graduates carry a median of $25,575 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $34,490. Set against $25,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse placed #21 among the best values for sociology. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, with out-of-state students paying around $19,517. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $33,529 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #22 for value in sociology this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $26,500. Sociology graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $35,415 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #23 among the best values for sociology. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $26,000. Early-career sociology graduates make about $36,452. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #24 for value in sociology this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $17,802 to complete the sociology program here. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $35,889. That is a strong return on a $17,802 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for sociology value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,739 to complete the sociology program here. Sociology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $38,034 early in their careers. Set against $21,739 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Sociology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s sociology value ranking:
Narrow Sociology Schools by State
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 52 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 52 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.
