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$14,784 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents (2024–25), the lowest among the 6 bachelor’s programs shown here.
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Dartmouth College in Hanover ranks first for sociology at the bachelor’s level. Compare the 6 ranked schools in New Hampshire through their costs, degree awards, and the program details below.

6 schools in New Hampshire awarded sociology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, scored against 843 bachelor’s programs nationwide.
Standard Major in Sociology
Dartmouth’s standard sociology major is eleven courses: an introduction, two methods courses (SOCY 10 and SOCY 11), a theory course and seven more numbered 20 or higher. Every major ends with a culminating experience, chosen from The Sociological Imagination (SOCY 91), a Community-Engaged Research Practicum (SOCY 92) or an Honors Thesis (SOCY 98 and 99). If your interests cross departments, the modified major runs thirteen courses and adds four related courses from other programs, with approval from the chair. Dartmouth awarded 33 degrees in this field in 2023–24, first on the New Hampshire page.
Program Sources: The Standard Major and Modified Major | Department of Sociology
Sociology Major (B.A.)
Five four-credit courses form the core of UNH’s sociology BA: introductory sociology, statistics, sociological theory, sociological analysis and methods of social research. You then choose five electives, at least two at the 600 or 700 level, and finish with a capstone that can be a 600 or 700-level course, an IROP or SURF research experience, or a senior thesis. Majors complete at least 40 credits in sociology, and the departmental honors program is recommended for students above a 3.4 GPA. The program awarded 21 degrees in 2023–24, second on the New Hampshire page.
Program Sources: Sociology Major (B.A.) | University of New Hampshire Academic Catalog
Sociology (B.A.)
Keene State’s sociology BA is 40 credits, with a 24-credit core that pairs sociology with anthropology: introductory sociology, research methods, theory, introductory statistics, cultural anthropology or archaeology, and one 400-level seminar from options such as ethnographic research methods, white-collar crime, terrorism and social inequalities. The other 16 credits are electives in sociology, anthropology or criminal justice studies, 12 of them at the 300 level or higher. Coursework can include community research, service-learning projects, internships and travel. It awarded 18 degrees in 2023–24.
Program Sources: Sociology (B.A.) < CourseLeaf | Keene State College Academic Catalog
Sociology
Saint Anselm’s sociology majors take five required courses in sequence: SO 101 introduction, SO 211 research methods, SO 212 social statistics, SO 325 sociological theory and SO 453 senior seminar, plus four electives. The college suggests starting SO 101 in the first year and research methods as a sophomore. Seniors are highly encouraged to complete a one-course or two-course internship (SO 481 or SO 485), and a social work course can count as an elective. Five degrees were awarded in 2023–24.
Program Sources: Program: Sociology - Saint Anselm College
Sociology and Human Services: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Sociology and human services is one major at Colby-Sawyer, and the sociology track totals 44 credits. It runs through introduction to sociology, U.S. social problems, race and ethnic relations, gender and society and research methods in the social sciences, then a required internship of at least four credits and a capstone for the social sciences, with 16 credits of track electives. The learning outcomes connect classwork to a placement in a social organization. The other track is human services, which prepares generalist helping professionals. Four degrees were awarded in 2023–24.
Program Sources: Sociology and Human Services: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) | Colby-Sawyer College
B.A. in Sociology
Rivier’s sociology BA is taught on the Nashua campus and blends research with activism: you can conduct original research, present at conferences and take part in social activism. The major covers race, criminology, culture, social change, gender, age, education, politics and the economy, so you can tailor the degree toward goals such as counseling, human resources or community planning. Internships add practical experience, and many alumni go on to master’s programs or law school. Rivier awarded one degree in this field in 2023–24, so expect a very small cohort.
Program Sources: B.A. in Sociology | Rivier University
Each program gets the same comparison score it earns in our national sociology model, calculated against the nationwide group that meets the numeric and directory criteria. We then order New Hampshire’s eligible programs by that score within each degree level. This page features up to 10 programs, taking the next highest-ranked program from each degree-level list in turn. Scores are compared only within the same degree level. Bachelor’s lists weigh graduation rate (20%), published tuition (20%), graduate earnings (20%), program reputation (25%), and degrees awarded (15%). Methodology and data sources.
These picks compare only the programs featured in the lists above.
$14,784 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents (2024–25), the lowest among the 6 bachelor’s programs shown here.
33 sociology bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2023–24, the most of any school on this list.
The highest-scoring public school on the bachelor’s list (No. 2 overall), with a comparison score of 68.9.
Keene State College ranks third on the bachelor’s list and lists the lowest resident price, $14,784 in schoolwide tuition and required fees for 2024–25. It awarded 18 sociology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, close to UNH’s 21. The private schools below it vary widely on cost. Colby-Sawyer College in New London lists $19,125, just under UNH’s $19,202 resident figure, while Saint Anselm College lists $48,920 and Rivier University $39,488. Saint Anselm reports an 80% schoolwide graduation rate, second only to Dartmouth among the bachelor’s schools.
The bachelor’s list has two public schools, UNH in Durham and Keene State College, and four private ones. Dartmouth is the only school on it with a schoolwide graduation rate above 90%, at 96%.
These are BLS median annual wages for New Hampshire and the United States from the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. A median is the midpoint among workers in the occupation, from new hires to senior staff, so it is not a starting salary for a new graduate. The 10th–90th percentile range shows what the middle 80% of workers earn in the state.
| Occupation | New Hampshire Median | New Hampshire 10th–90th Percentile | U.S. Median | New Hampshire Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science Research Assistants | $65,690 | $37,350–$93,030 | $61,990 | 70 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $64,570 | $46,660–$136,640 | $78,760 | 4,200 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Wage data does not enter the program scores.
6 schools in New Hampshire appear in the lists shown here (6 bachelor’s programs). A school can appear at more than one degree level. The degree counts come from federal IPEDS completions for 2023–24.
Keene State College lists $14,784 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents in 2024–25, the lowest among the bachelor’s programs shown here. That is a schoolwide figure before aid, so check the program’s own costs and any fees for fieldwork or labs.
The federal IPEDS completions file records sociology research doctorates awarded in 2023–24 at University of New Hampshire (2 degrees). These are historical award counts. Check current admissions, advisor availability, and funding directly with each department.
Dartmouth ranks first on the bachelor’s list with a comparison score of 76.7, and UNH ranks second at 68.9. Dartmouth awarded more sociology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24 (33 to UNH’s 21) and reports a 96% schoolwide graduation rate to UNH’s 76%. Schoolwide 2024–25 tuition and required fees are $68,019 at Dartmouth and $19,202 for UNH residents.
Keene State College in Keene has the lowest resident tuition and required fees among the ranked sociology bachelor’s programs: $14,784 for 2024–25. The nonresident figure is $26,840. Those are schoolwide undergraduate charges. Compare your aid offer and housing costs before deciding which school fits your budget.