Best value colleges for Sociology in California.2026 Rankings
With 63 Sociology programs spread across California, narrowing your list takes real data. Our algorithm ranks each school on six factors — admission rate, graduation rate, net price, median graduate earnings, student-faculty ratio, and major breadth — so you can compare apples to apples before you apply.
California offers 12 public and 18 private Sociology programs in this ranking. Public universities average $40,261 for in-state students, making them a strong value option. The most competitive school on the list — Stanford University — accepts 4% of applicants. Early-career earnings for Sociology graduates average $38,028, with a state-wide graduation rate of 81% for ranked programs.
Not sure if your profile matches these schools?
Every Sociology program here has a different student profile it targets. Before you finalize your list, it's worth understanding where you stand.
Drop your application data into our Free Application Review. Our AI will analyze your admission chances and stats in 2 minutes. Get practical next steps for improvements where it matters most.
Get My Free Application Review →Sociology Programs in California
ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | Perfect· 54 | 4% | 93% | $1,323 | $89,527 | 6:1 | 49 | 7,841 |
| 2 | Harvey Mudd CollegePrivate | Elite· 49 | 13% | 94% | $18,937 | $107,923 | 8:1 | 26 | 915 |
| 3 | Claremont McKenna CollegePrivate | Elite· 48 | 11% | 95% | $14,929 | $68,541 | 8:1 | 43 | 1,379 |
| 4 | Pomona CollegePrivate | Elite· 48 | 7% | 93% | $5,099 | $41,100 | 7:1 | 39 | 1,638 |
| 5 | Excellent· 45 | 10% | 92% | $18,993 | $35,580 | 9:1 | 83 | 20,817 | |
| 6 | Occidental CollegePrivate | Excellent· 44 | 40% | 85% | $17,577 | $42,653 | 9:1 | 31 | 1,844 |
| 7 | Excellent· 43 | 30% | 85% | $11,372 | $30,401 | 18:1 | 78 | 21,521 | |
| 8 | Scripps CollegePrivate | Excellent· 42 | 34% | 87% | $22,440 | $37,612 | 11:1 | 48 | 1,077 |
| 9 | Great· 41 | 42% | 85% | $12,304 | $32,137 | 21:1 | 91 | 31,777 | |
| 10 | Great· 41 | 25% | 88% | $10,389 | $36,464 | 19:1 | 71 | 33,787 | |
| 11 | Great· 41 | 28% | 85% | $11,398 | $34,372 | 17:1 | 53 | 23,205 | |
| 12 | University of San DiegoPrivate | Great· 41 | 47% | 82% | $19,998 | $36,476 | 14:1 | 43 | 5,619 |
| 13 | Pitzer CollegePrivate | Great· 40 | 17% | 83% | $17,911 | $33,658 | 10:1 | 62 | 1,191 |
| 14 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Great· 40 | 44% | 88% | $41,599 | $53,612 | 10:1 | 45 | 6,235 |
| 15 | Great· 40 | 12% | 93% | $11,424 | $40,774 | 18:1 | 80 | 33,073 | |
| 16 | Great· 40 | 26% | 86% | $11,769 | $34,050 | 18:1 | 71 | 29,494 | |
| 17 | Great· 40 | 9% | 93% | $11,065 | $34,121 | 18:1 | 75 | 33,040 | |
| 18 | Fresno Pacific UniversityPrivate | Great· 39 | 58% | 56% | $11,116 | $42,313 | 8:1 | 62 | 1,614 |
| 19 | Great· 38 | 47% | 70% | $9,063 | $31,270 | 19:1 | 84 | 34,131 | |
| 20 | Great· 38 | 63% | 77% | $12,449 | $29,367 | 23:1 | 60 | 22,644 | |
| 21 | Strong· 37 | 63% | 74% | $13,001 | $28,495 | 22:1 | 56 | 17,812 | |
| 22 | University of RedlandsPrivate | Strong· 37 | 81% | 71% | $20,649 | $33,421 | 11:1 | 38 | 2,095 |
| 23 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 56% | 80% | $39,414 | $39,278 | 12:1 | 54 | 7,629 |
| 24 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 40% | 80% | $32,869 | $35,993 | 11:1 | 50 | 7,171 |
| 25 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 50% | 85% | $40,201 | $49,653 | 13:1 | 43 | 3,629 |
| 26 | Strong· 36 | 34% | 78% | $14,205 | $35,136 | 22:1 | 79 | 33,654 | |
| 27 | Westmont CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 80% | 70% | $24,081 | $37,671 | 10:1 | 28 | 1,310 |
| 28 | Strong· 35 | 69% | 53% | $25,413 | $40,451 | 11:1 | 52 | 1,746 | |
| 29 | Strong· 35 | 39% | 69% | $11,594 | $37,092 | 21:1 | 27 | 8,372 | |
| 30 | Strong· 35 | 65% | 56% | $17,411 | $69,240 | 16:1 | 27 | 1,975 |