Best Sociology Schools in New York

New York has 49 colleges offering Sociology programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 2,287 recent graduates. Graduates earn $32,527 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $31,633.

School choice matters significantly: Columbia University in the City of New York graduates earn $44,170 while Wells College graduates earn $26,353 — a $17,817 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

Schools in NY

$32,527

NY Avg. Earnings

$31,633

National Avg.

593

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Sociology in New York

Public Schools (24)

$31,494

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (25)

$33,559

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $2,065 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Sociology Schools in New York, Ranked by Earnings

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

$44,170

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $53,374

Graduates: 54

Acceptance: 4.2%

Barnard College

New York, NY · Private

$50,856

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,701

Graduates: 17

Acceptance: 8.0%

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$47,260

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,066

Graduates: 17

Acceptance: 9.4%

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$40,896

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,205

Graduates: 34

Acceptance: 8.2%

Fordham University

Bronx, NY · Private

$33,281

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,678

Graduates: 43

Acceptance: 56.3%

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Geneva, NY · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $36,852

Graduates: 25

Acceptance: 57.3%

Wagner College

Staten Island, NY · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 83.5%

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

$34,420

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,936

Graduates: 44

Acceptance: 41.7%

Hartwick College

Oneonta, NY · Private

$30,409

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,182

Graduates: 36

Acceptance: 68.7%

#10

CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY · Public

$34,298

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,202

Graduates: 37

Acceptance: 53.7%

#11

SUNY College at Geneseo

Geneseo, NY · Public

$29,685

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,257

Graduates: 32

Acceptance: 63.5%

#12

Binghamton University

Vestal, NY · Public

$31,423

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,188

Graduates: 75

Acceptance: 37.7%

#13

Siena College

Loudonville, NY · Private

$38,289

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,157

Graduates: 17

Acceptance: 70.6%

#14

University of Mount Saint Vincent

Bronx, NY · Private

$27,222

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,805

Graduates: 22

Acceptance: 84.6%

#15

Manhattanville University

Purchase, NY · Private

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

CUNY York College

Jamaica, NY · Public

$38,289

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $39,940

Graduates: 62

Acceptance: 59.4%

#18

Le Moyne College

Syracuse, NY · Private

$28,212

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,973

Graduates: 24

Acceptance: 75.3%

#19

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY · Public

$29,685

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,405

Graduates: 108

Acceptance: 49.0%

#20

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY · Private

$32,119

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $21,231

Graduates: 28

Acceptance: 70.6%

#21

Canisius University

Buffalo, NY · Private

$29,685

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,306

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 81.8%

#22

CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY · Public

$34,633

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,408

Graduates: 172

Acceptance: 54.0%

#23

University at Albany

Albany, NY · Public

$29,016

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,790

Graduates: 317

Acceptance: 69.9%

#24

State University of New York at Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY · Public

CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY · Public

$31,133

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,300

Graduates: 129

Acceptance: 68.5%

#26

CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public

$35,701

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $36,402

Graduates: 77

Acceptance: 58.1%

#27

CUNY Lehman College

Bronx, NY · Public

$33,325

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,404

Graduates: 300

Acceptance: 55.4%

#28

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY · Public

$33,993

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,746

Graduates: 64

Acceptance: 69.3%

#29

St Bonaventure University

Saint Bonaventure, NY · Private

$30,771

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,589

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 81.5%

#30

State University of New York at Cortland

Cortland, NY · Public

$32,925

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,745

Graduates: 42

Acceptance: 50.7%

#31

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY · Public

$32,711

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,749

Graduates: 75

Acceptance: 70.2%

#32

SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase, NY · Public

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York, NY · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,367

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 57.2%

#34

State University of New York at Oswego

Oswego, NY · Public

$26,353

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,261

Graduates: 22

Acceptance: 80.4%

#35

State University of New York at New Paltz

New Paltz, NY · Public

$30,080

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,889

Graduates: 58

Acceptance: 58.7%

#36

SUNY College at Potsdam

Potsdam, NY · Public

$29,685

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,523

Graduates: 49

Acceptance: 85.5%

#37

SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo, NY · Public

$30,167

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,388

Graduates: 51

Acceptance: 75.9%

#38

SUNY Old Westbury

Old Westbury, NY · Public

$30,554

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,661

Graduates: 50

Acceptance: 84.6%

#39

SUNY Brockport

Brockport, NY · Public

$31,314

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,016

Graduates: 56

Acceptance: 71.3%

#40

Mercy University

Dobbs Ferry, NY · Private

$25,194

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,993

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 85.5%

#41

Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY · Private

St. John Fisher University

Rochester, NY · Private

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY · Public

Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, NY · Private

$32,653

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,110

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 22.9%

#45

St. John's University-New York

Queens, NY · Private

$30,409

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,512

Graduates: 23

Acceptance: 79.7%

#46

SUNY at Fredonia

Fredonia, NY · Public

Long Island University

Brookville, NY · Private

St Lawrence University

Canton, NY · Private

$26,625

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,512

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 58.5%

#49

Wells College

Aurora, NY · Private

$26,353

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 69.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Sociology in New York?

Columbia University in the City of New York ranks #1 for Sociology in New York with median graduate earnings of $44,170 within two years of graduation. There are 49 schools offering Sociology programs in the state.

How much do Sociology graduates earn in New York?

Sociology graduates in New York earn an average of $32,527 within two years of graduation. This is 3% above the national average of $31,633 for this major.

What is the hardest Sociology school to get into in New York?

Columbia University in the City of New York is the most selective Sociology program in New York with an acceptance rate of 4.2%. The average acceptance rate across Sociology programs in the state is 61.8%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Sociology in New York?

In New York, private Sociology programs produce average earnings of $33,559 vs $31,494 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 24 public and 25 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in New York

Marine Transportation $73,446 Computer Science $71,535 Computer Engineering $71,263 Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology $70,176 Industrial Engineering $69,459 Construction Management $67,560 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $66,924 Materials Engineering $66,884

All colleges in New York →

Sociology in Other States

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.