by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sociology](/majors/social-sciences/sociology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sociology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for sociology students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sociology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Central New Mexico Community College, our #1 best value for sociology in New Mexico. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $10,112. Early-career sociology graduates make about $34,751. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Portales. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,074, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $27,000. Early-career sociology graduates make about $29,167. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Typical student debt for sociology graduates is $24,986. Sociology graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $31,376 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value sociology schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Sociology graduates carry a median of $23,141 in student loans. Early-career sociology graduates make about $35,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.