Compare 51 Sociology. programs in New York. Average earnings: $46,358.
Sociology programs produce graduates earning between $48,701 and $68,952—a $20K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 51 ranked programs in New York, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Barnard College's Sociology program leads with graduates earning $68,952, despite its 27-student cohort size. Columbia follows at $66,948, while NYU rounds out the top three at $61,935. The state average of $46,358 shows significant variation—proving that program-level factors drive outcomes more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. CUNY Hunter College graduates borrow $11,000 and face just a 5.0% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, CUNY Queens College leads with a 15.2% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Barnard CollegePrivate | $68,952 | 27 | $18,000 | Excellent | $65,000 | High |
| #2 | $66,948 | 51 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Challenging | |
| #3 | New York UniversityPrivate | $61,935 | 53 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | High |
| #4 | Manhattanville CollegePrivate | $60,202 | 19 | $25,000 | Good | $35,904 | Challenging |
| #5 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $57,799 | 46 | $24,300 | Good | $37,095 | High |
| #6 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $52,918 | 53 | $26,000 | Good | $39,841 | High |
| #7 | Hofstra UniversityPrivate | $52,894 | 22 | $23,621 | Good | $56,149 | High |
| #8 | Cuny Hunter CollegePublic | $52,572 | 217 | $11,000 | Excellent | $20,252 | Manageable |
| #9 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | $51,788 | 34 | $15,000 | Excellent | $59,463 | High |
| #10 | $51,258 | 19 | $25,000 | Good | $54,289 | High | |
| #11 | Wagner CollegePrivate | $51,246 | 16 | $25,000 | Good | $53,829 | High |
| #12 | Stony Brook UniversityPublic | $51,165 | 135 | $18,228 | Good | $21,400 | Challenging |
| #13 | $50,654 | 48 | $21,500 | Good | $24,455 | Challenging | |
| #14 | Cuny Queens CollegePublic | $50,156 | 205 | $10,298 | Excellent | $17,680 | Manageable |
| #15 | St. John Fisher UniversityPrivate | $49,875 | 8 | $23,250 | Good | $37,716 | High |
| #16 | University At BuffaloPublic | $49,556 | 152 | $19,000 | Good | $20,734 | Challenging |
| #17 | Hartwick CollegePrivate | $49,503 | 13 | $27,000 | Manageable | $49,557 | High |
| #18 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $49,403 | 65 | $18,500 | Good | $27,270 | High |
| #19 | Cuny Brooklyn CollegePublic | $48,880 | 26 | $11,000 | Excellent | $17,273 | Manageable |
| #20 | Long Island UniversityPrivate | $48,701 | 6 | $23,577 | Manageable | $36,515 | High |
| #21 | $48,501 | 30 | $25,000 | Manageable | $32,040 | High | |
| #22 | Cuny York CollegePublic | $48,131 | 58 | $11,000 | Excellent | $11,018 | Manageable |
| #23 | $47,882 | 14 | $21,196 | Good | $19,010 | Challenging | |
| #24 | University At AlbanyPublic | $47,666 | 210 | $19,500 | Good | $22,398 | Challenging |
| #25 | Cuny City CollegePublic | $47,607 | 72 | $11,990 | Excellent | $17,460 | Manageable |
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 →
