Lowest In-State Tuition for a Bachelor’s
$11,952 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents (2024–25), the lowest among the 3 bachelor’s programs shown here.
Vermont · Sociology Rankings · 2027 
Best Sociology Programs in Vermont for 2027
Three Vermont schools made our sociology list: two public and one private. The University of Vermont in Burlington ranks first and awarded 34 of the state’s 52 sociology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24. Middlebury College and Vermont State University in Randolph round out the list.
By Taylor Rupe, Editor
Sociology Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Vermont
3 schools in Vermont awarded sociology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, scored against 843 bachelor’s programs nationwide.
- 1
University of Vermont
Sociology B.A.
71.8 Comparison ScoreUVM’s sociology major runs on a fixed spine of Introduction to Sociology, research methods, a four-credit Data Analysis in Sociology course and Social Theory, which together fill 13 of the 31 major credits. The rest is yours to shape through intermediate and advanced SOC courses, an optional concentration in Crime and Criminal Justice, or a service-learning Internship Seminar. The department also offers an upper-level research seminar where you design and carry out your own study, plus a senior honors thesis with a faculty advisor. With 34 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it ranks first on its Vermont page.
- Methods and Theory Core
- Research Methods, Data Analysis in Sociology and Social Theory
- Concentration
- Optional Crime and Criminal Justice, 12 credits
- Research and Honors
- Upper-level research seminar and senior honors thesis
Program Sources: Sociology B.A. | University of Vermont CatalogueB.A. in Sociology | UVM Department of Sociology
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 34 Sociology, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 79% 2,508 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $54,529 Sociology bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $19,058 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $45,502 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 2
Middlebury College
Sociology Major
63.1 Comparison ScoreMiddlebury asks sociology majors for ten courses: an introduction, two required courses numbered 0301 and 0305, a 400-level senior seminar, and six electives, at least two of them at the 300 level. At least eight of those courses have to be fall or spring courses taught on campus, so winter term and transfer credits only stretch so far. If you want departmental honors, you write an independent senior project, either a one-semester paper of roughly 25 to 40 pages or a two-semester project of 60 to 100 pages that ends in an oral defense. About 11 students finished the degree in 2023–24, which makes it a small cohort.
- Required Core
- Intro course, SOCI 0301, SOCI 0305 and a 400-level seminar
- Senior Project
- Optional one-semester or two-semester independent project for honors, with an oral defense for the longer one
- Electives
- Six electives, at least two at the 300 level
Program Sources: Requirements | Sociology | MiddleburyRequirements | Sociology | Middlebury
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 11 Sociology, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 91% 628 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $58,241 Sociology bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $67,600 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $67,600 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 3
Vermont State University
Sociology, B.A.
30.5 Comparison ScoreVermont State’s sociology degree has you choose between a Criminology and a Cultural Anthropology concentration, and the curriculum maps out Sociological Theory and Social Science Applied Research in the third year. You then pick one applied experience: Anthropology Fieldwork, an Internship in Sociology of 1 to 12 credits, or an elective internship or study abroad, and finish with a Social Science Seminar. The department says majors take part in research each semester, and recent topics included student debt, library needs and themed housing. Seven degrees were awarded in 2023–24, so expect small classes.
- Concentrations
- Criminology or Cultural Anthropology
- Applied Experience
- Anthropology Fieldwork, Internship in Sociology, or an elective internship or study abroad
- Research Courses
- Sociological Theory, Social Science Applied Research and a Social Science Seminar
Program Sources: Sociology B.A. - Vermont State UniversitySociology B.A. - Vermont State University
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 7 Sociology, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 43% 888 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $39,174 Sociology bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $11,952 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $22,296 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
Sociology Programs in Vermont at a Glance
- Ranked Schools
- 3 2 public, 1 private
- Bachelor’s Programs
- 3 52 degrees in 2023–24
- Lowest In-State Tuition
- $11,952 Bachelor’s list, schoolwide, 2024–25
How We Rank Sociology Programs in Vermont
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 Vermont’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%). How these scores work.
Best Sociology Schools in Vermont by Goal
These picks compare only the programs featured in the lists above.
Most Sociology Bachelor’s Graduates
34 sociology bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2023–24, the most of any school on this list.
Highest Schoolwide Graduation Rate
91% 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.
Top-Scoring Private College
The highest-scoring private school on the bachelor’s list (No. 2 overall), with a comparison score of 63.1.
How Vermont’s Three Sociology Programs Compare on Cost and Size
Cost varies a lot. Vermont State University charges $11,952 in schoolwide tuition and fees for in-state students. The University of Vermont charges $19,058 in state and $45,502 out of state. Middlebury College, a private nonprofit, lists $67,600 for everyone. For a Vermont resident, the two public schools cost a fraction of Middlebury’s price.
Program size and completion differ too. The University of Vermont awarded 34 sociology bachelor’s degrees, Middlebury 11, and Vermont State 7. Middlebury has the highest schoolwide graduation rate at 91 percent. UVM follows at 79 percent, and Vermont State posts 43 percent. Weigh the lower price at Vermont State against that gap.
Sociology Careers and Pay in Vermont
These are BLS median annual wages for Vermont 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 | Vermont Median | Vermont 10th–90th Percentile | U.S. Median | Vermont Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science Research Assistants | $47,510 | $47,510–$76,650 | $61,990 | 40 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $74,880 | $50,700–$110,230 | $78,760 | 860 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Wage data does not enter the program scores.
Sociology Programs in Vermont: Common Questions
How Many Schools in Vermont Appear in These Sociology Rankings?
3 schools in Vermont 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 Vermont Has the Lowest Tuition?
Vermont State University lists $11,952 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 Vermont Sociology Program Costs the Least?
Vermont State University in Randolph has the lowest in-state tuition and fees on this list at $11,952 for 2024–25. Out-of-state students pay $22,296 there.
How Many Sociology Degrees Did Vermont Schools Award?
The three ranked schools awarded 52 sociology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24. The University of Vermont accounted for 34 of them.
Sources for This Page
- IPEDS C2024_A completions: first-major degrees awarded by field and level, 2023–24.
- IPEDS COST1_2024: tuition and required fees, 2024–25.
- IPEDS DRVGR2024: schoolwide graduation rates.
- Carnegie 2025 Research Activity Designations.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates.
- SocialSciences.org ranking methodology.