2026 Best Value Sociology Schools in District of Columbia
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
George Washington University tops our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools in District of Columbia. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $22,910. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $73,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Georgetown University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Sociology graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $40,079. Set against $13,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 13%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American University earned it the #3 place for sociology. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Sociology graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $40,119. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Howard University earned it the #4 place for sociology. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,810. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Howard University generally make around $58,495. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
