North Dakota · Sociology Rankings · 2027

Best Sociology Programs in North Dakota for 2027

North Dakota has three ranked sociology programs, and all three are public universities: the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota State University in Fargo, and Minot State University. The University of North Dakota ranks first for the bachelor’s degree.

Posted October 9, 2026Updated October 9, 20263 Schools Ranked
Historic brick storefronts and a street corner in downtown Fargo, North Dakota, on a clear day
"Fargo North Dakota Broadway" by Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant), licensed BY-SA. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2238613

Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Programs in North Dakota

3 schools in North Dakota awarded sociology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, scored against 843 bachelor’s programs nationwide.

  1. 1

    University of North Dakota

    Sociology BA

    Grand Forks Public

    64.0 Comparison Score

    UND builds its sociology degree on a core in theory, research methods and statistics, then ends it with a capstone course where you show what you can do. Electives lean toward deviance, family, gender, health and aging. The program is a 120-credit major designed for four years, and it points you toward the Alpha Kappa Delta sociology honor society, presenting research at local and regional conferences, and internships and research with faculty. UND awarded 16 sociology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, and the program holds the top spot on the North Dakota page.

    Core Courses
    Theory, research methods and statistics
    Capstone
    Capstone course to showcase your skills
    Electives
    Deviance, family, gender, health and aging

    Program Sources: Sociology Degree | University of North Dakota

    Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
    16
    Sociology, 2023–24
    School Six-Year Graduation Rate
    61%
    1,807 first-time, full-time students
    Median Graduate Earnings
    $49,665
    Sociology bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
    In-State Tuition + Fees
    $10,951
    Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
    Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
    $15,570
    Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
  2. 2

    North Dakota State University

    Sociology

    Fargo Public

    60.5 Comparison Score

    Internships carry much of the practical weight in NDSU’s sociology degree. Placements are available at agencies across North Dakota and Minnesota and can be completed at any time of the calendar year, and students have interned in human and social services, volunteer agencies, community development, and business and industry. The faculty’s areas include social inequality, community development, gender studies and applied sociology. High-achieving students can also earn the bachelor’s and a Master of Public Health in about five years through an accelerated option. NDSU awarded 7 sociology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24.

    Internships
    Agencies in North Dakota and Minnesota, any time during the calendar year
    Accelerated Option
    Bachelor’s plus Master of Public Health in about five years
    Faculty Strengths
    Social inequality, community development, gender studies and applied sociology

    Program Sources: Sociology | North Dakota State University

    Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
    7
    Sociology, 2023–24
    School Six-Year Graduation Rate
    64%
    2,268 first-time, full-time students
    Median Graduate Earnings
    $56,040
    Sociology bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
    In-State Tuition + Fees
    $10,910
    Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
    Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
    $15,564
    Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
  3. 3

    Minot State University

    Sociology (BA)

    Minot Public

    37.8 Comparison Score

    Minot State organizes sociology around three foundations: social problems, research methods and theory. From there you can follow the topics the department highlights, including gender, deviance and social movements. The program sits in the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Studies, and it is taught on campus. The university frames the major around skills you can carry into several fields: critical thinking, research and data analysis. Those skills point toward work in law, market analysis, management, human resources, corrections and health services, or toward graduate study in law, political science and research.

    Core Topics
    Social problems, research methods and theory
    Topic Areas
    Gender, deviance and social movements
    Skills Emphasized
    Critical thinking, research and data analysis

    Program Sources: Sociology (BA) | Minot State University

    Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
    1
    Sociology, 2023–24
    School Six-Year Graduation Rate
    45%
    384 first-time, full-time students
    In-State Tuition + Fees
    $8,702
    Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
    Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
    $8,702
    Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25

Sociology Programs in North Dakota at a Glance

Ranked Schools
3
3 public, 0 private
Bachelor’s Programs
3
24 degrees in 2023–24
Lowest In-State Tuition
$8,702
Bachelor’s list, schoolwide, 2024–25

How We Rank Sociology Programs in North Dakota

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 North Dakota’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.

Best Sociology Schools in North Dakota by Goal

These picks compare only the programs featured in the lists above.

Lowest In-State Tuition for a Bachelor’s

Minot State University

$8,702 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents (2024–25), the lowest among the 3 bachelor’s programs shown here.

Most Sociology Bachelor’s Graduates

University of North Dakota

16 sociology bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2023–24, the most of any school on this list.

Highest Schoolwide Graduation Rate

North Dakota State University

64% of first-time, full-time students at the school finished a bachelor’s within six years. This is a schoolwide rate, not a sociology-only rate.

Compare Sociology Programs in North Dakota by Degree Level

The two top-ranked schools charge almost the same. Schoolwide tuition and required fees for state residents in 2024–25 were $10,951 at the University of North Dakota and $10,910 at North Dakota State University. They differ more on output. In 2023–24 the University of North Dakota awarded 16 sociology bachelor’s degrees, North Dakota State awarded 7, and Minot State University awarded 1. Minot State lists the lowest tuition and fees at $8,702 and charges out-of-state students the same amount. Its schoolwide six-year graduation rate is 45%, compared with 61% and 64% at the other two.

Sociology Careers and Pay in North Dakota

These are BLS median annual wages for North Dakota 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.

Annual wages in North Dakota compared with the United States
OccupationNorth Dakota MedianNorth Dakota 10th–90th PercentileU.S. MedianNorth Dakota Jobs
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$61,580$39,480–$102,950$78,7601,550

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Wage data does not enter the program scores.

Sociology Programs in North Dakota: Common Questions

How Many Schools in North Dakota Appear in These Sociology Rankings?

3 schools in North Dakota appear in the lists shown here (3 bachelor’s programs). A school can appear at more than one degree level. The degree counts come from federal IPEDS completions for 2023–24.

Which Sociology Bachelor’s Program in North Dakota Has the Lowest Tuition?

Minot State University lists $8,702 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.

Which North Dakota Sociology Program Costs the Least?

Minot State University lists $8,702 in annual tuition and required fees for 2024–25, the lowest of the three bachelor’s schools, and charges out-of-state students the same rate. The figure is schoolwide, not a sociology program price. North Dakota State University lists $10,910 for residents and the University of North Dakota $10,951.

Which Ranked Sociology Bachelor’s Program Has the Lowest Resident Tuition in North Dakota?

Minot State University in Minot has the lowest resident tuition and required fees among the ranked sociology bachelor’s programs: $8,702 for 2024–25. Those are schoolwide undergraduate charges. Compare your aid offer and housing costs before deciding which school fits your budget.

Sources for This Page

  1. IPEDS C2024_A completions: first-major degrees awarded by field and level, 2023–24.
  2. IPEDS COST1_2024: tuition and required fees, 2024–25.
  3. IPEDS DRVGR2024: schoolwide graduation rates.
  4. Carnegie 2025 Research Activity Designations.
  5. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates.
  6. SocialSciences.org ranking methodology.