Key takeaways
- First and foremost, The University of Illinois, Chicago, is the best college if you are looking for the most comprehensive sociology degree in Illinois. It has successful alumni in various industries like education and law enforcement and offers an excellent campus life with 200 student organizations.
- Second of all, Illinois State University offers the most versatile range of housing options, including coed dorms, and special rooms for international students.
- Thirdly, Northern Illinois University or NIU has the highest minority enrollment, allowing sociology students to enjoy a diverse student body and get great exposure during their 4-year program.
- Fourthly, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville has the highest acceptance rate of 98%, with an average GPA requirement of 3.6. It offers sociology students hands-on experience with Sociological research and has a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio for enhanced learning.
- Lastly, Principia College has the lowest student-to-faculty ratio in Illinois, just 5:1. This guarantees personalized education and individual attention.
From small art colleges to large-scale public and private institutions, Illinois is home to a large variety of colleges. Home to one of the most popular cities, Chicago, Illinois is a great place for living a quality life. You can pursue an education in sociology at various Illinois colleges.
A sociology degree in Illinois is your gateway to many types of job roles and industries. Sociologists can land jobs as educationalists, caseworkers, community developers, healthcare workers, and much more. They can also pursue further education and earn a Master’s or Ph.D. Sociology is also one of the degrees suitable for a career in human resources. Undoubtedly, a sociology degree is your gate pass to obtaining something reputable and prestigious after the 4-year degree program.
If you are looking for a good college to start your sociology degree, make sure you don’t miss out on the exhaustive list of colleges offering the same in Illinois. Even if you are an international or out-of-state student, you will find colleges like Illinois State University offering the best housing options.
Read this article further to discover the true academic gems hidden in Illinois.
How to choose the best colleges for sociology degree in Illinois?
Before you select any college for a sociology degree in Illinois, make sure you consider the following factors:
Faculty
Firstly, evaluate the faculty and their qualifications. Your entire journey of learning and developing new skills during the sociology undergraduate program depends immensely on the faculty. Make sure to visit the college website and see what their faculty is like, who leads the sociology department, and what achievements and contributions are made by the faculty members.
Alumni profiles
Second of all, you must explore what the college alumni are up to. This is an excellent way of understanding and predicting what your future career prospects look like. Plus, it also offers a great opportunity to network and create connections with people who went to the same college as you. Dont forget that career trajectory with a sociology degree is diverse. for example, a sociology degree can get you a job in human resources too. Make sure to check out whether or not the alumni made a career shift.
Campus and student life
In addition to academics, other factors like campus life also play a great role in shaping your experience at the college. It’s important for you to consider the campus life that the college has, whether there are social and academic, what are the student organizations like, and if there are sports teams or not. Housing options are also good indicators of how convenient it would be to stay on campus.
Program details
Lastly, do not miss out on the program details. Even though you have made up your mind about pursuing a sociology degree, don’t forget to specifically check what a college is offering in its sociology program. Look into what courses you will be studying, what major and minor subjects are on offer, and also look for add-ons like certifications and diplomas.
Colleges for sociology degrees in Illinois
You must do your research and explore the diverse range of colleges for a sociology degree in Illinois. The most suitable colleges for sociology degree in Illinois are the ones with good acceptance rates and a strong alumni profile. Check them now!
University of Illinois, Chicago — best overall
The University of Illinois—Chicago has a strong student body of well over 22,000. This school is perfect for undergraduates in many ways. For one, its location is ideal, surrounded by public transport stops, making commuting easy. Second, it is packed with over 200 student organizations and clubs that elevate the entire student and campus life.
The University of Illinois, Chicago, takes great pride in its sociology alumni who are doing great work around the world in various industries and domains. They have found work in business organizations, health, public sectors, the teaching industry, research and writing, and even political advocacy.
The sociology program at UIC is one of the most comprehensive undergraduate programs you will find. It provides internship opportunities, requires capstone projects for enhanced learning, and focuses the course curriculum on modern-day social issues related to various aspects such as justice and equality.
The sociology department guarantees a memorable student life by offering particular sociology-related clubs. It also keeps its alumni in the spotlight, so you can easily network and create connections in your field of study.
The college has a generous acceptance rate of 79%, with a preference for students who maintain a high school GPA of 3.5 or more. It also has an impressive ethnic minority percentage of about 68%, with Hispanic and Asian communities in the lead.
| Location:
Chicago, IL |
GPA requirement:
3.5 |
Acceptance rate:
79% |
Tuition fee:
$17,811 for in-state and $32,833 for out-of-station students Prices excluding housing and other charges |
Illinois State University — best housing options
If you are looking for educational opportunities in Illinois from out-of-state, then Illinois State University is just the right college for you. Firstly, the college offers the most wholesome variety of housing options that you can choose from. As a result, you will not face any inconveniences even when away from home.
Moreover, it has coed dorm rooms, sorority and fraternity housing, women’s dorm rooms, theme housing, wellness housing, apartments for married and single students, and special housing options for the disabled. In addition to that, it even offers special housing options for international students so they are made to feel at home.
As a sociology student, a comfortable housing arrangement, and a vibrant student life will really help you enjoy your academic career. Furthermore, it has a 51% graduation rate and has a diverse student body made up of 31% minority communities like Hispanics and Asians.
The sociology program at ISU focuses largely on data-intensive research. It focuses on developing analytical skills that students and graduates can apply to various aspects of life.
The program also explores multiple social institutions like families and workplaces. Lastly, the faculty at ISU encourages class participation and tries to maximize individual attention.
| Location:
Normal, IL |
GPA requirement:
3.6 |
Acceptance rate:
86% |
Tuition fee:
$15,602 tuition and fees for in-state and $27,126 tuition and fee for out-of-state students Prices excluding housing and other charges |
Northern Illinois University — highest minority enrollment
Northern Illinois University, or NIU, has the highest minority enrollment in its student body – 55% of the student body comes from minority communities like Asians, Hispanics, and Blacks. A diverse student body could be a great addition to your learning experience as a sociology student.
NIU has an incredible sociology degree program anyway. Its program focuses largely on social issues like wealth inequality and criminal justice. Additionally, a lot of its alumni from the sociology undergraduate program have managed to work in fields such as law, health care, education, and public service.
The college lets you choose between a B.A or B.S. in sociology, depending on what your personal preferences and goals are. It also offers subjects for concentration and emphasis, such as Criminology. This can help you expand your knowledge and career pathways.
NIU is also going to offer you a great student and campus life. It has over 100 sports teams, 24 fraternities, and offers several types of housing options. It has a good student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, ensuring a greater chance of personalized education and individual attention.
| Location:
DeKalb, IL |
GPA requirement:
3.4 |
Acceptance rate:
71% |
Tuition fee:
$13,248 annually Price excludes living expenses and other charges |
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — highest acceptance rate
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has the highest acceptance rate of 98%, with an average GPA requirement of about 3.6. This is one of the easiest institutes to get in, and offers the most comprehensive sociology undergraduate program.
The sociology department at SIUE focuses on creating hands-on experiences for the students. The sociology program takes the students through multiple research projects and encourages group efforts.
Not just academically, but SIUE is also a great pick if you want to grow professionally in your career. It offers many career growth opportunities and learning experiences. You can choose between a BA or BS in sociology degree in Illinois depending on your preferences and goals.
The college has a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which allows room for individual attention and personalized education. It also has over 70 sports teams and multiple student organizations to keep the campus life upbeat.
| Location:
Edwardsville, IL, |
GPA requirement:
3.6 |
Acceptance rate:
98% |
Tuition fee:
$26,456.50 including tuition, fee, room and board, and student health insurance fee |
Principia College — lowest student-to-faculty ratio
It’s going to take a lot of work to find another college in Illinois with a student-to-faculty ratio as low as Principia College. At Prin, the student-to-faculty ratio is a mere 5:1! This implies that during your bachelor’s in sociology, you will be most likely to get individual attention that aids better learning and growth.
The undergraduate sociology program at Principia College uses real-life observations, research, and problems to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students. It encourages diving deep into community-specific social issues.
Prin is a great pick for students who are looking for a college that makes it easy to land academic and professional opportunities. From offering study-abroad opportunities to a diverse student body and several internship opportunities, you could get a great start to finding the best sociology degree jobs.
Other than the lowest student-to-faculty ratio, Prin has many other things to offer. It has a high graduation rate of 71%. However, it does have a low acceptance rate of just 48%, with an average GPA requirement of 3.3.
| Location:
Elsah, IL |
GPA requirement:
3.3 |
Acceptance rate:
48% |
Tuition fee:
$33,280 tuition and fee, excluding housing and other charges |
Are there more colleges to explore in Illinois for a sociology degree?
Don’t limit or restrict your options. Certainly, choosing a college for an undergraduate degree is an important decision that you must do research for. Explore some more colleges that might have something interesting to offer. Check these below!
- Trinity Christian College
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- University of St. Francis
- Aurora University
- Roosevelt University
- Dominican University
- Lewis University
- University of Illinois-Springfield
- Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Get ready for your sociology degree in Illinois
In the end, as the list above shows, you will not be short of options when searching for the best colleges for a sociology degree in Illinois. From the University of Illinois, Chicago to a private liberal arts college like Principia College, you will find a diverse variety in Illinois.
Briefly, all colleges mentioned above offer amazing sociology undergraduate programs that can help you build an impactful and robust career. With a sociology degree, you can dive into various professions, some of which include legal advisory, social advocacy, social research, and data analysis.
You can broaden your options and explore colleges in Indiana, or check out esteemed colleges in New York. There are also a range of public and private colleges in Colorado.
Lastly, make sure you give this decision a long hard thought, and don’t rush the final choice. Take a look at important factors like alumni profiles and faculty members to make an informed decision. Explore and find answers to some of the most common questions asked about undergrad sociology programs, to find the guidance you need in making the right academic decision.