What you'll do in college
These majors study people in groups—families, communities, cultures, and societies. Sociology focuses on contemporary societies and social structures; anthropology looks at the full range of human cultures, often through fieldwork; social work prepares students to help individuals and communities directly.
Coursework includes research methods, statistics, social theory, and topical electives like inequality, race, gender, urban studies, or global development. Many programs include fieldwork or practicum experiences.
What you'll do after college
Grads work in social services, nonprofits, government agencies, research firms, healthcare, education, and increasingly tech (UX research and trust-and-safety roles). Social workers usually pursue a master's (MSW) and licensure to practice clinically.
Many grads also continue to law school, public policy programs, or PhDs. The work is mission-driven and often lower-paying, especially early on, but it can be deeply rewarding for people who want to address social problems directly.
Famous graduates
- Martin Luther King Jr. — Civil rights leader; B.A. in Sociology from Morehouse College
- Tracy Chapman — Grammy-winning musician; B.A. in Anthropology from Tufts University
- Amanda Gorman — American poet and activist; B.A. in Sociology from Harvard University
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
By SAT median
Earnings vs. selectivity rank
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology & Anthropology | 1,008 | 34,596 | 27% / 72% | 3% | $51,280 |
| 847 | 20,584 | 25% / 75% | 3% | $51,880 | |
| 422 | 6,697 | 27% / 72% | 2% | $47,031 | |
| 216 | 4,565 | 37% / 63% | 3% | $53,271 | |
| 103 | 761 | 31% / 69% | 2% | $54,646 | |
| 50 | 424 | 27% / 73% | 5% | $52,345 | |
| 3 | 224 | 38% / 62% | 4% | $36,096 | |
| 21 | 186 | 35% / 65% | 3% | $52,884 | |
| 1 | 163 | 43% / 57% | 8% | $70,642 | |
| 7 | 138 | 13% / 87% | 2% | $47,580 | |
| 1 | 121 | 21% / 79% | 0% | $49,902 | |
| 2 | 81 | 32% / 68% | 9% | $89,189 | |
| 16 | 73 | 26% / 74% | 11% | ||
| 11 | 52 | 35% / 65% | 0% | $58,797 | |
| 7 | 48 | 23% / 77% | 2% | $51,078 | |
| 1 | 41 | 37% / 63% | 2% | $42,854 | |
| 6 | 40 | 38% / 62% | 2% | $47,630 | |
| 2 | 40 | 10% / 90% | 2% | $52,000 | |
| 4 | 33 | 27% / 73% | 3% | $52,814 | |
| 5 | 30 | 20% / 80% | 13% | ||
| 1 | 29 | 28% / 72% | 0% | $55,944 | |
| 1 | 29 | 59% / 41% | 28% | $72,976 | |
| 2 | 28 | 21% / 79% | 7% | $63,066 | |
| 1 | 23 | 48% / 52% | 0% | $58,511 | |
| 3 | 20 | 40% / 60% | 0% | $38,583 | |
| 1 | 19 | 42% / 58% | 0% | $67,555 | |
| 1 | 19 | 26% / 74% | 0% | ||
| 2 | 18 | 17% / 83% | 6% | $63,927 | |
| 1 | 17 | 41% / 59% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 15 | 47% / 53% | 7% | $55,376 | |
| 5 | 12 | 8% / 92% | 0% | $47,240 | |
| 1 | 12 | 42% / 58% | 0% | ||
| 10 | 10 | 20% / 80% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 8 | 88% / 12% | 0% | ||
| 2 | 6 | 17% / 83% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 6 | 33% / 67% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 5 | 20% / 80% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 3 | 33% / 67% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 3 | 33% / 67% | 0% | $54,611 | |
| 1 | 3 | 67% / 33% | 0% | $64,236 | |
| 1 | 3 | 0% / 100% | 0% | ||
| 2 | 2 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $34,429 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 1 | 100% / 0% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $63,621 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $48,500 |