Compare 25 Sociology. programs in Massachusetts. Average earnings: $47,234.
With top graduates earning $71K, Sociology stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $24K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Boston College's Sociology program leads with graduates earning $70,722, well above the Massachusetts average of $47,234. Harvard follows at $56,641, while College Of The Holy Cross delivers $57,078. These outcomes demonstrate that program-level factors drive results more than overall institutional reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Boston College graduates borrow $19,000 and face just a 5.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, proving top programs can also be affordable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Boston CollegePrivate | $70,722 | 45 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | Challenging |
| #2 | College Of The Holy CrossPrivate | $57,078 | 31 | $27,000 | Good | $39,032 | High |
| #3 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $56,641 | 56 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Challenging |
| #4 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $55,876 | 47 | $23,250 | Good | $39,000 | High |
| #5 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $55,693 | 41 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Challenging |
| #6 | $53,721 | 110 | $22,763 | Good | $26,243 | Challenging | |
| #7 | Curry CollegePrivate | $52,507 | 11 | $25,000 | Good | $51,615 | High |
| #8 | Suffolk UniversityPrivate | $52,264 | 66 | $26,889 | Manageable | $38,234 | High |
| #9 | $52,232 | 9 | $22,457 | Good | $18,544 | Challenging | |
| #10 | Smith CollegePrivate | $50,843 | 33 | $17,550 | Good | $30,366 | High |
| #11 | Brandeis UniversityPrivate | $50,018 | 30 | $25,648 | Manageable | $35,451 | High |
| #12 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $49,859 | 31 | $24,250 | Manageable | $34,984 | High |
| #13 | $48,795 | 53 | $19,500 | Good | $17,518 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $48,126 | 69 | $21,974 | Good | $17,163 | Challenging | |
| #15 | Clark UniversityPrivate | $47,963 | 16 | $26,759 | Manageable | $27,407 | High |
| #16 | Salem State UniversityPublic | $45,212 | 17 | $25,000 | Manageable | $21,128 | High |
| #17 | Mount Holyoke CollegePrivate | $43,798 | 19 | $22,902 | Manageable | $31,129 | High |
| #18 | $43,642 | 37 | $25,000 | Manageable | $20,284 | High | |
| #19 | Assumption UniversityPrivate | $43,426 | 20 | $27,000 | Manageable | $45,926 | High |
| #20 | Stonehill CollegePrivate | $40,461 | 19 | $25,000 | Challenging | $58,576 | High |
| #21 | $39,449 | 27 | $23,750 | Challenging | $15,000 | High | |
| #22 | $38,737 | 60 | $24,286 | Challenging | $18,070 | High | |
| #23 | $33,993 | 7 | $27,000 | High | $21,595 | High | |
| #24 | $31,305 | 23 | $26,000 | High | $58,410 | High | |
| #25 | Gordon CollegePrivate | $18,487 | 15 | $26,250 | High | $43,838 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
