Best Sociology Programs in Illinois (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 21 Sociology programs in Illinois by the median earnings of Sociology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Northwestern University ranks 1st on this list, with median earnings of $75,267 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the median earnings figure is $52,791, and the range stretches from $75,267 to $35,600, a spread of $39,667. For 4 of the 21 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list includes 9 public and 12 private nonprofit institutions. University of Illinois Chicago posts the lowest average net price on the page at $10,974, while University of Illinois Chicago ranks 17th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has the highest admission rate, admitting 98% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University · Evanston, IL | $75,267 | $29,167 | $1,764 | 7.7% |
| Northwestern University ranks 1st on this list and reports median earnings of $75,267 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, IL | $61,429 | $36,079 | $28,992 | 81.6% |
| Loyola University Chicago admits 82% of applicants and shows median earnings of $61,429 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL | $58,023 | $13,391 | $10,126 | 69.8% |
| Northern Illinois University ranks 3rd on this list with median earnings of $58,023 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Augustana College · Rock Island, IL | $57,943 | $22,736 | $15,787 | 62.7% |
| Augustana College posts median federal debt of $26,497 among Sociology completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $57,943 four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | North Central College · Naperville, IL | $56,281 | $21,044 | $12,507 | 77.3% |
| North Central College reports an average net price of $21,044 and median earnings of $56,281 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $55,393 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 35th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $55,393 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Dominican University · River Forest, IL | $54,686 | $11,745 | $9,759 | 90.3% |
| Dominican University has an admission rate of 90% and an average net price of $9,759 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 8 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $53,962 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
| University of Illinois Chicago reports median earnings of $53,962 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 77 graduates. | |||||
| 9 | Northeastern Illinois University · Chicago, IL | $53,747 | $14,109 | $13,709 | 74.6% |
| Northeastern Illinois University shows median federal debt of $16,870 among Sociology completers who borrowed and median earnings of $53,747 four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | Elmhurst University · Elmhurst, IL | $53,075 | $24,185 | $17,892 | 73.6% |
| Elmhurst University ranks 10th on this list and reports an average net price of $24,185. | |||||
| 11 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $52,791 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
| DePaul University reports median earnings of $52,791 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | McKendree University · Lebanon, IL | $52,428 | $24,717 | $21,928 | 71.7% |
| McKendree University admits 72% of applicants and shows median federal debt of $25,625 among Sociology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 13 | Chicago State University · Chicago, IL | $51,485 | $12,335 | $9,073 | 43.3% |
| Chicago State University reports median earnings of $51,485 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $12,335. | |||||
| 14 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · Edwardsville, IL | $51,465 | $14,889 | $8,483 | 97.5% |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville reports median federal debt of $25,000 among Sociology completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earned a median of $51,465. | |||||
| 15 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $51,000 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
| Illinois State University ranks 15th on this list and posts an average net price of $11,568 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 16 | Western Illinois University · Macomb, IL | $50,080 | $12,937 | $6,941 | 71.2% |
| Western Illinois University sits at 561st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $50,080 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | Eastern Illinois University · Charleston, IL | $48,925 | $12,786 | $9,828 | 65.4% |
| Eastern Illinois University reports median federal debt of $25,000 among Sociology completers who borrowed, and an admission rate of 65%. | |||||
| 18 | University of Chicago · Chicago, IL | $48,432 | $14,860 | -$1,264* | 4.5% |
| University of Chicago, a private nonprofit university in Chicago, reports median earnings of $48,432 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | Bradley University · Peoria, IL | $43,798 | $22,719 | $17,269 | 76.8% |
| Bradley University posts an average net price of $17,269 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 587th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 20 | Illinois Wesleyan University · Bloomington, IL | $36,674 | $28,199 | $17,732 | 39.3% |
| Illinois Wesleyan University reports median earnings of $36,674 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 39%. | |||||
| 21 | Roosevelt University · Chicago, IL | $35,600 | $20,194 | $18,018 | 97.2% |
| Roosevelt University ranks 21st on this list and shows an average net price of $20,194. | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Sociology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Illinois appear. The figures reflect federally aided completers of Sociology programs who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 4 of the 21 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or differences in who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. Northwestern University leads Loyola University Chicago by $13,838, and the spread from Northwestern University to the bottom of the list is $39,667.
Related rankings
- Best Sociology Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in Illinois
- Best Sociology Programs in Indiana
- Best Sociology Programs in California
- Best Sociology Programs in Florida
- Sociology Programs in Alabama
- Social Sciences Colleges in Illinois