Best Sociology Programs in Wisconsin (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 12 Sociology programs in Wisconsin by median earnings of Sociology graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Wisconsin-Madison leads the list with median earnings of $58,007 four years after completing, followed by Marquette University at $57,131 and Beloit College at $53,351.
The gap between the top two programs is $876. Across the list, median earnings range from $58,007 to $36,134, with a median of $48,968.
Public institutions account for 8 of the 12 programs, while 4 are private nonprofits. University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks 82nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on the page.
University of Wisconsin-Parkside posts the lowest average net price at $11,772, and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point reports the highest admission rate, admitting 92% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $58,007 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison reports $58,007 in median earnings for its Sociology graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $4,200 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 2 | Marquette University · Milwaukee, WI | $57,131 | $31,487 | $22,269 | 81.3% |
| Marquette University admits 81% of applicants and its Sociology completers who borrowed left with a median of $24,968 in federal loans. | |||||
| 3 | Beloit College · Beloit, WI | $53,351 | $21,526 | $15,176 | 63.0% |
| Beloit College ranks 1102nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a 63% admission rate. | |||||
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · Whitewater, WI | $50,827 | $14,158 | $8,440 | 85.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater posts median earnings of $50,827 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $14,158. | |||||
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse · La Crosse, WI | $50,737 | $16,210 | $8,224 | 75.5% |
| A median federal debt of $21,647 among Sociology completers who borrowed coincides with 41 graduates in the earnings cohort at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. | |||||
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI | $49,486 | $15,014 | $10,329 | 90.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reports $49,486 in median earnings for its Sociology graduates four years after completing, and its admission rate is 91%. | |||||
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point · Stevens Point, WI | $48,451 | $14,559 | $8,833 | 91.8% |
| Admitting 92% of applicants, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point shows median earnings of $48,451 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Saint Norbert College · De Pere, WI | $48,357 | $26,172 | $19,721 | 85.7% |
| Saint Norbert College ranks 1390th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $48,357 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside · Kenosha, WI | $46,005 | $11,772 | $7,425 | 75.4% |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside carries an average net price of $11,772 and its Sociology completers who borrowed left with a median of $18,500 in federal loans. | |||||
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls · River Falls, WI | $45,741 | $14,054 | $8,472 | 81.7% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $20,500 in federal loans at University of Wisconsin-River Falls, which reports median earnings of $45,741 for its Sociology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI | $36,421 | $16,550 | $10,270 | 82.3% |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire shows a median federal debt of $21,190 among Sociology completers who borrowed, with an average net price of $16,550. | |||||
| 12 | Carthage College · Kenosha, WI | $36,134 | $26,565 | $23,293 | 87.1% |
| Carthage College admits 87% of applicants and carries an average net price of $23,293 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
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 Wisconsin appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 12 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 who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between first-ranked University of Wisconsin-Madison and second-ranked Marquette University is $876, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $21,873.