2016-10-27

The Students Before Profits Award was created to recognize nonprofit universities and college offering degrees that put students before profits and education before the bottom line.  For our ranking of the 2017 Best Online Bachelor’s in Sociology, we have researched all of the accredited online Sociology programs from nonprofit college and universities with lower than average tuition costs and ranked them by affordability.

To best suit the needs of the modern students, online degree programs have grown immensely popular due to their ability be flexibly scheduled around other obligations.  Sociology degree programs online allow students to pursue a liberal arts education in sociology while minimally impacting their current day-to-day schedule.  By studying sociology, students will gain an understanding of the structures and institutions of modern society and the ways they influence behavior.  Students will also learn valuable research, analytical, and problem-solving skills widely-applicable to everyday life.  Sociology students will also gain a greater insight and understanding of the ways that we communicate with one another.

After pursing a Bachelor’s in Sociology, students are set up to enter the workforce in search of a multitude of different career options.  With the emphasis on important skills needed to succeed in modern life like creativity, problem-solving and communication, Sociology students are well-prepared for a wide variety of different careers.  The focus on social understanding prepares students to work in law, social services, health services, business, writing, advertising, journalism, and many more careers.  So whether you pursue a career teaching middle-schoolers or find a job working for an adverting agency, the skills and information learned from a Bachelor’s of Sociology will become a major key to success.

Note that tuition rates listed below are based on cost per credit and individual programs may have additional fees.

#1. Fort Hays State University



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Originally founded on the grounds of Fort Hays, an abandoned frontier military outpost that closed in 1889, Fort Hays State University opened over a decade later in 1902.  Initially founded as the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School, Fort Hays University eventually split off to become its own independent university.  Located in downtown Hays, Kansas, the school sits beside the business district of the downtown area.  Fort Hays State University is also known for its very popular and highly-ranked “Virtual College” distance education system.  Currently, the school enrolls 11,200 students, 6,000 of which are enrolled online.  Students are offered nearly eighty different degree programs from which to choose from.  Fort Hays State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Students who choose to enroll at Fort Hays State University will be able to enroll in either a Bachelor of Science in Sociology or Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree program that is made available through the school’s Virtual Campus.  This program of study is made available entirely online, never requiring any visits to campus nor does it required any transfer credits to enter the program.  Through this course, students will gain a broad liberal arts education that will prepare them with a strong base to pursue a variety of career paths.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Fort Hays State University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $24,840

#2. Eastern Oregon University



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Located in the Blue Mountain range between Boise, Idaho and Portland, Oregon, Eastern Oregon University sits in the center of the incredibly scenic La Grande, Oregon.  Opened as the Eastern Oregon Normal School as a teachers college, the school underwent a variety of different name changes until 1997 when state legislature renamed the school to Eastern Oregon State University.  Now the school is home to over Eastern Oregon University 1,700 students at its La Grande campus and just over 15,000 students in its distance education program.   Students at the school are offered nearly one hundred different degree programs to choose from.  Eastern Oregon University is a public institution.

Program Overview

As part of Eastern Oregon University’s large selection of online degrees offered through their distance education program,  students are able to enroll in the school’s Anthropology / Sociology degree program.  Offered entirely online, this program does not require any visits to the Eastern Oregon University campus nor does it require any transfer credits into the program.  Students in this program will gain a strong liberal arts education that focuses on studies of anthropological studies of ancient cultures as well as sociological principles and paradigms for which to view modern society.  A minimum of 130 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Eastern Oregon University’s Anthropology / Sociology degree is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

Tuition: $27,300

#3. Nicholls State University



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Located in the southern Louisiana city of Thiboadaux, Nicholls State University sits along the Bayou Lafourche – just fifty miles outside of New Orleans – on what had once been the historic Acadia plantation.  Nicholls State University gets its name from a member of the Louisiana Supreme Court and former Louisiana Governor, Francis T. Nicholls.  The school was first established in 1948.  Now, Nicholls University is a member of the University of Louisiana System and is home to nearly 6,000 students all enrolled in one of the many degree programs offered at the university.  Nicholls State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Offered through the Nicholls Online initiative, a new distance education platform Nicholls State University rolled out in 2013, students are able to enroll in a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program crafted by the university’s Department of Government & Social Sciences.  This program is made available entirely online and does not require any campus visits or prior transfer credits to enter into the program.  Students enrolled in this program will specialize in the study of sociology while gaining a strong foundation in liberal arts education, preparing them for a multitude of different career options.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Nicholls State University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $33,000

#4. Columbia College

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Established by the Missouri State Legislature as the Christian Female College,  Columbia College welcomed its first class of students in 1851.  Created to provide women with an opportunity to pursue higher education,  Columbia College was one of the first of its kind.  At the time, there were no other women’s colleges west of the Mississippi River.  Over a century later, the school’s name was changed to Columbia College and the student body became coeducational.  Despite the name change, Columbia College still retains its ties with the Christian Church while still being accepting of those of all religious denominations and affiliations.   Named by the Princeton Review as a “Best Midwestern University”, Columbia College is located in Columbia, Missouri.  Approximately 2,100 students are currently attending the college and are enrolled in one of the over seventy-five degree programs offered.  Columbia College is a private institution.

Program Overview

At Columbia College, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree program made available through the school’s online Campus, Columbia College Online.  This program is made available to students entirely online and does not require any transfer credits nor does it require any visits to the Columbia College campus.  Students are able to design this program to be flexible around their current working schedules.  Through this program of study students will engage in the scientific study of how social insitutiitions grow and change over time, while studying the social issues that are a part of modern society.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Columbia College’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $34,800

#5. Southern New Hampshire University

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Nestled between the two New Hampshire towns of Hooksett and Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University’s main campus is located with a student body of nearly 3,000.  But much greater than Southern New Hampshire University’s on-campus enrollment is it’s online student body, which is an incredible 60,000.  With such high online enrollment, Southern New Hampshire University is one of the largest online schools in the nation.  Established by Harry and Gertrude Shapiro, husband and wife, in the year 1932, Southern New Hampshire University first opened its doors as the New Hampshire School of Accounting an Secretarial Science.   Now, Southern New Hampshire University enrolls nearly 66,000 students and offers hundreds of degree programs to study.  Southern New Hampshire University is a private institution.

Program Overview

At Southern New Hampshire University, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree made available entirely online through their distance education program.  That means that students can plan their schedule to be flexible around their current obligations and are not required to make any visits to campus nor do they need to enter the program with any transfer credits. Through this degree plan, students will learn to better understand social groups, society, and human behavior.  This program also offers a community health concentration for students to pursue in addition to their Sociology degree.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Southern New Hampshire University’s Bachelor of Science in Sociology is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Tuition: $34,800

#6. Colorado State University

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Designated as a research university with “Very high research activity” by the Carnegie Institute, Colorado State University is ranked 60th in the nation for overall research and development spending, and 34th with medical school spending excluded.  Colorado State University was established in 1870 through the Morill Act as the Colorado Agricultural College.  The establishment of Colorado State University in 1970 meant that the school predated Colorado’s statehood.  Now, the school is the flagship of the Colorado State University System and enrolls over 33,000 students.  Over 100 different degrees of study are offered through the school.  Colorado State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

At Colorado State University, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Applied Social Sciences through the university’s Global Campus distance education program.  This degree program is offered entirely online affording students the flexibility to mold a plan of study around their current day-to-day obligations.  This program does not require any campus visits nor does it require and prior credits to enter into the program.  Through this program, students will study society and social behaviors learning to analyze cultures, organizations, and social institutions.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Colorado State University’s Bachelor of Science in Applied Social Sciences is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $42,000

#7. Kansas State University

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In 1863, Kansas State University was founded under the name Kansas State Agricultural College.  At the time, Kansas State University was the first public institution of higher education in the state as well as the state’s first land-grant college.  Over time, the college began to encompass more degrees and fields of study, eventually leading to the school’s name to be changed to Kansas State University.  Established in Manhattan, Kansas,  Kansas State University remains at its original location and many of the same historic buildings can still be seen on the campus.  The school currently enrolls approximately 24,000 students across its main campus and online programs.  Students can enroll in over a 120 different degrees of study.    Kansas State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Offered through Kansas State University’s Global Campus, students can enroll in an Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Bachelor’s degree at the college.  This program is designed to be flexible to the needs of modern day students and is available entirely online.  Students are able to transfer credits into the program but are not required to in order to enroll, nor are they required to visit the Kansas State University Manhattan campus during their studies.  This degree program will have its students focus on the institutions of modern society,  how they interrelate, and how those interrelationships can affect change in human behavior.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Kansas State University’s Interdisciplinary Social Science Bachelor’s is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and School (NCA).

Tuition: $50,880

#8. Upper Iowa University

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A pioneer named Elizabeth Alexander proposed the idea of establishing a college in the newly pioneered town of Fayette, Iowa to her husband Robert, laying the groundwork of what would soon become Upper Iowa University.  In 1857, Upper Iowa University was established with a few personal donations and an affiliation with the Methodist Church.  Still remaining in Fayette, a small rural city located near the Volga River, Upper Iowa Univerity has continued to grow.  Much of Upper Iowas University’s growth can be seen through it’s distance education program.  With student centers all over the world and a robust online program,  Upper Iowa University enrolls more than 6,000 people in their distance education program.  Students at the school are able to pick from nearly one hundred different programs made available online and on-campus.  Upper Iowa University is a private institution

Program Overview

Made available through Upper Iowa University’s incredibly successful distance education program, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Sociology degree program.  This program of study is made available entirely online, affording students the ability to build around their current day-to-day schedule  This degree program is transfer-friendly but does not require its students to have any prior college credits.  Students will also never have to attend class at the Upper Iowa University campus.  Through this course of study, students will gain a deeper understanding of human relationships as well as a broad liberal arts background, preparing them for a large selection of potential careers.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Upper Iowa University’s Bachelor of Science in Sociology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $51,600

#9. Tennessee State University

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An historically black university, Tennessee State University was established in 1912 as the Tennessee A&I State Normal School For Negroes.  Decades later in 1968, the school was renamed to Tennessee State University and just eleven years after that the school was merged with the University of Tennessee at Nashville.  Tennessee State University is also a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.  Located in the beautiful southern capital city of Nashville, Tennessee,  Tennessee State University’s main campus is located in a more residential part of the city while the newer Avon Williams campus resides in the middle of downtown.  The school currently enrolls over 9,000 students and offers just under seventy different programs of study.  Tennessee State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Through Tennessee State University’s TSU Online distance education program, students can enroll in their Bachelor of Science in Sociology degree program.  This program is made available entirely online allowing students to create their own class schedule that best fits their needs.   Students are never asked to attend class on the Tennessee State University Nashville campus nor do they need to enter the program with any transfer credits, although they are accepted.  This degree of study will have students engage in the study of group life, engaging in the combination of scientific and humanistic perspectives to better understand the social forces that shape the way we are.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Tennessee State University’s Bachelor of Science in Sociology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $54,480

#10. Saint Leo University

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Opened in 1889, Saint Leo University is one of the oldest Catholic colleges in the country, and the oldest in the state of Florida.   Saint Leo University also happens to be the sixth-largest Catholic college in the country, as well.  Founded by a group of Benedictine monks, the first class at Saint Leo University enrolled 32 students.  Since then, the university has grown a lot.  In 1972, Saint Leo University became one of the first school’s to provide a distance education program by educating those stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.  Located in Saint Leo, Florida for which the school gets its name, Saint Leo University enrolls over 16,000 students of which 2,000 are located at the main campus -the rest through distance education.  The school offers over forty different programs or students to enroll in.  Saint Leo University is a private institution.

Program Overview

Saint Leo University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree made available to students through it’s Saint Leo University Online distance education program. Designed to be taken entirely online, students can customize their class schedule to fit around their current lives.  The program does not require students to transfer in any credits and does not require visits to the Saint Leo University main campus.  Students in the program will learn how to systematically collect and analyze information about people and social life, while examining various groups and social institutions that people have formed. A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Saint Leo University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $56,400

#11. Western Kentucky University

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In 1876, A. W. Mell founded Glasgow Normal School and Business College in the town of Glasgow, Kentucky.  Later in 1890, Potter College, an all women’s college was established by Pleasant J. Potter.  These schools, along with the Western Kentucky Normal School and Teachers College would all merge by 1930 to become Western Kentucky State College, and eventually Western Kentucky University after one final name change in 1965.  Located in Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is undergoing campus renovations while still aiming to maintain many of its historic buildings.  Western Kentucky University operates a second campus in Bowling Green as well as three other satellite campuses.  The university offers its approximately 21,000 students hundreds of different degree programs to chose from.  Western Kentucky University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Western Kentucky University offers students a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree through the school’s WKU Online distance education program. This program is made available entirely online through WKU Online creating a learning environment for students that is entirely flexible to the needs and demands of their current schedules.  The Bachelor Arts in Sociology program is transfer-friendly but does not require any prior transfer credits nor does it require any visits to the Western Kentucky University campus.  Through this degree program students will examine the social causes and consequences of human behavior, and learn how societies develop.   A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Western Kentucky University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $59,520

#12. Thomas Edison State University

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Approved by New Jersey Board of Education in 1971,  Thomas Edison State University was established in the Forrestal Center just outside of Princeton, New Jersey.  A few years later, Thomas Edison State University had outgrown its initial home in the Forrestal Center and it began looking for a new home.  Fortunately, the Kelsey Building in downtown Trenton, New Jersey was vacant and the college moved into its new home in 1979.   The college was named to honor the New Jersey-native, Thomas Alva Edison, the prolific inventor of the lightbulb.  Now the school enrolls more than 18,600 students, many of whom attend the school through distance education.  These students are able to enroll in one of Thomas Edison State University’s more than 100 different degree programs.   Thomas Edison State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

At Thomas Edison State University, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree through the school’s online distance education system.  Students in this program will be able to complete the degree entirely online without ever having to visit the Thomas Edison State University Trenton campus.  Students are able to transfer credits into the program but are not required to do so as the entire program is attainable online.  In this program, students will learn the forces that direct and change people’s behavior, beliefs, and attitudes.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Thomas Edison State University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Tuition: $59,880

#13. University of Maryland University College

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The University of Maryland University College was established in 1947 with a simple mission – to provide people with a means to continue their education and professional development in their adulthood.  Deriving it’s name from the traditional definition of “college”, the University of Maryland University College received its name due to its dedication to being a school for professional development.  Now the school enrolls nearly 90,000 students worldwide making the University of Maryland University College one of the largest distance educators in the United States.   At the University of Maryland University College students are able to enroll in over 120 different degree programs.  University of Maryland University College is a public institution.

Program Overview

Students enrolled at University of Maryland University College are able to enroll in the school’s Bachelor of Science in Social Science degree program though the school’s online education platform.  This program is 100% online allowing students to create a class schedule that best fits their needs.  The program is transfer-friendly allowing students transfer credits in but it is not required of them.  Students are also not required to have any visits to the campus.  By taking this plan of study, students will learn the interdisciplinary skills needs to address social issues and understand the factors that influence the operation of society.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: University of Maryland University College’s Bachelor of Science in Social Science is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Tuition: $59,880

#14. Arizona State University

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Ranking among the United State’s list of largest public university, Arizona State University’s massive student body comes in at over 82,000 students. Arizona State University was founded on the “New American University” values of not trying to keep students out, but to find ways to bring as many students in and to focus on making them the best they can be.  Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona, Arizona State University’s main campus has remained there since the school opened in 1885 as the Territorial Normal School.  Due to its size, Arizona State University has grown beyond its Tempe campus.  Arizona State University now included five campuses that encompass much of the downtown Phoenix area.  Enrolling at Arizona State University affords students the ability to enroll in over 350 different degrees programs.  Arizona State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Through ASU Online, Arizona State University’s online distance education platform, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Sociology degree.  This program is available entirely online requiring no visits to campus.  Students are able to transfer college credits into the program but are also able to pursue the entirety of the program online.  By pursuing this degree program students will learn the social causes and consequences of human behavior, as well as study social life and social change.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Arizona State University’s Bachelor of Science in Sociology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $60,000

#15. Brandman University

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Opened initially to provide high-quality education to those stationed at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Irvine, California, Brandman University was established in 1958.  An offshoot of Chapman University of Orange, California, a school that dates all the way back to 1861, Brandman University was formerly named Chapman University College.  Now, Brandman University has grown in size to include over twenty-five different campuses located throughout California and Washington state.  Brandman University also includes a very large virtual campus. The university offers its approximately 11,000 students more than 50 different programs to choose from.  Brandman University is a private institution.

Program Overview

Through Brandman University, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree online.  This degree program is offered entirely online and does not require students to ever go to the Brandman University campus.  Students are welcome to transfer college credits into the program but are not required to.  In Brandman University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program, students will learn to understand the ways that humanity interacts and the social systems and institutions humanity has built.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Brandman University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Tuition: $60,000

#16. Northeastern University

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Dating all the way back to 1868, Northeastern University opened its doors for the first times the Evening Institute for Younger Men.  From its earliest days, Northeastern University was always committed to offering students flexibility in their educational pursuits.  Founded in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, Northeastern University has established satellite campuses in Seattle, Washington; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Silicon Valley, California.  The school has been classified by Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education as having the highest designation for research activity making among the upper echelon of research universities.  The school currently enrolls approximately 25,000 students and offers over 190 different graduate and undergraduate programs. Northeastern University is a private institution.

Program Overview

At Northeastern University, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Sociology online program.  This Bachelor Science in Sociology program is made available entirely online through Northeastern University’s Online & Graduate Professional Degree Program.  This degree does not require students to come to the Northeastern University campus, nor does it require students to transfer in any college credits.  Students who complete this program of study will learn how social groups, customs, and belief systems have come together to shape the ways humans behave. A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Northeastern University’s Bachelor of Science in Sociology is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Tuition: $60,480

#17. Excelsior College

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Developed as an external degree program, an early precursor to distance education, Excelsior College was founded in 1971 by the New York State Board of Regents.   Called REX (The Regents External Degree Program), the program later became a full-blown college called Regents College, and was later renamed to Excelsior College when it decided to become a private, nonprofit institution.  Since becoming a private institution, Excelsior College has focused its efforts on expanding its online offerings.  Based out of Albany, New York, Excelsior College enrolls around 35,100 students and offers more than thirty different degree programs to choose from.   Excelsior College is a private institution.

Program Overview

Specializing in distance education for decades, Excelsior College offers students both a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor Science in Sociology degree programs.  Students enrolled in either of these programs can pursue the degree entirely online, without having to go to Excelsior College’s physical campus.  Excelsior College is welcoming of transfer credits but does not require students to have any transfer credits to enroll in the program. By studying these degree programs at Excelsior College, students will learn to link human behavior to societal pressures and institutions while strengthening critical thinking and writing and research skills.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Excelsior College’s Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Sociology is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Tuition: $61,200

#18. University of Florida

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Formed through the combination of three other schools in Florida State University merged – East Florida Seminary in Ocala, Florida is its oldest part, dating back to 1853 – the University of the State of Florida was formed in 1905.   Still operating out of its place of founding in Gainesville, Florida – the university has grown a lot.  Currently, the University of Florida ranks as the eighth largest single-campus university in the United States.  Students are able to enroll in nearly 330 different degrees of study at the school.  University of Florida is a public institution.

Program Overview

At the University of Florida, students are can enroll in a Bachelor Arts in Sociology degree offered through UF Online.  This program of study is available entirely online.  Students are able to manipulate and arrange their course schedule to best meet their current scheduling needs.  The program does not require students to make any visits to the University of Florida Gainesville campus.  Students are able to transfer credits into the program, but are not required to.  By taking this plan of study, students will examine the social life within different groups, organizations, and societies.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: University of Florida’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $66,240

#19. National University

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David Chigos, former Lieutenant Commander of the United State Navy, wanted to create a school that provided working adults with a way to continue their education.  In 1972, David Chigos opened National University to do just that.  Now headquartered in La Jolla, California, the school was first opened in San Diego, California.  Now, National University has expanded to locations in Georgia, Florida, Nevada, and Virginia.  Continuing on its legacy of providing working adults with more flexible options for pursuing higher education, National University offers its classes at night, on the weekends, and online.  Offering around 130 degree programs, National University enrolls 24,000 students making it the largest private, non-profit college in the United States. National University is a private institution.

Program Overview

National University offers students a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program that is made available entirely online through their online education portal.  By enrolling in this Sociology program, students will be able to create a class schedule that is flexible to fit their needs.  The program is made available completely online without requiring any visits to the National University campus.  Transfer credits are welcome but not required for enrollment.  Students will investigate how groups, organizations, and societies are structured and the ways that people interact within these various contexts.  A minimum of 180 quarter units are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: National University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACSWASC).

Tuition: $74,880

#20. North Dakota State University

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Originally named the North Dakota Agricultural College at its founding in 1890, North Dakota State University was one of the first colleges in the Dakota territory.  In 1960 the school’s name was changed to North Dakota State University after a state referendum.   Located in Fargo, North Dakota’s biggest city by population, North Dakota State University is spread across many campuses in the area: its main campus, NDSU downtown, and several agricultural centers.   North Dakota State University has been designated with “Very high research activity” by the Carnegie Institute.  The school currently enrolls about 14,500 students and offers over 200 different programs of study.  North Dakota State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

As part of North Dakota State University’s distance education program, students are able to enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Sociology degree program.  Students are able to study this degree entirely online affording them the ability to create a class schedule best suited to their needs.  The program is accepting of transfer credits but they are not required.  Students are not required to make any visits to the North Dakota State University campus.  Through this course of study, students will examine a variety of social relationships to gain understanding of the ways that they mold individual behavior.  A minimum of 122 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: North Dakota State University’s Bachelor of Science in Sociology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $99,186

#21. Adams State University

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Sharing a home with the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Adams State University is located in Alamosa, Colorado.  After three decades of petitioning, Billy Adams, a governor of Colorado  finally receive authorization to found Adams State Normal School in 1921.  To honor the hard work of Billy Adams, the school was named after him.  Later in 2012, the college was named to Adams State University.  A large component of the small rural town of Alamosa, Adams State University is home to over 3,000 students.  Students enrolled in Adams State University are able to enroll Adams State in almost forty different degrees of study.  Adams State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Students at Adams State University are able to enroll in two different degree programs through the school’s online education system: a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology or a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Welfare.  These programs are designed to be available entirely online with a flexible curriculum that can be scheduled around students needs.  Students are able to transfer credits into the program but are not required to do so.  Campus visits are not required for this program.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Adams State University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $100,320

#22. Dallas Baptist University

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Upon the purchase of a parcel of land in Decatur, Texas by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Decatur Baptist College was opened, the forerunner to Dallas Baptist University.  The school remained in its Decatur location until it outgrew the space in 1965 when it moved to Dallas prompting the name change from Decatur Baptist University to Dallas Baptist University.  The new Dallas campus is located beside Mountain Creek Lake, about twelve miles out of downtown Dallas.  Dallas Baptist University enrolls approximately 5,500 students.  Students at the school can enroll in one of the over 120 different degree programs offered through the school.  Dallas Baptist University is a private institution.

Program Overview

At Dallas Baptist University, students are able to enroll in the college’s online Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Sociology program.  This program is available through the college’s distance education program and is available entirely online.  Students are not required to enter the program with any prior college credits but are able to if they so choose.  This degree program does not require any visits to the Dallas Baptist University campus.  In this program, students will gain a greater understanding of human behavior and learn ways to predict it.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Dallas Baptist University’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Sociology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $101,520

#23. Northern Arizona University

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Hidden within the ponderosa pine forests,  Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona.  Opened in 1899 as the Northern Arizona Normal School, Northern Arizona State University was initially created to be an educator of children for the state of Arizona.  Over sixty years later, the Arizona Board of Regents granted the school university status and the school’s name was changed to its current name, Northern Arizona University.  One of the premier research universities in the state, Arizona State University has been designated as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.  The school currently offers over 250 different degree programs to its nearly 28,000 students.  Northern Arizona University is a public institution.

Program Overview

As part of one of the Extended Campuses, students can enroll in Northern Arizona University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree made available entirely online.   This degree program does not require students to make any visits to Northern Arizona University’s campus.  Students can transfer credits into the program but it is not a requirement of the school to enroll. According to Northern Arizona University, the study of sociology is part scientific research, part humanities, and part storytelling.  Students will learn valuable research and observation skills that are widely applicable to various career options.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Northern Arizona University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $146,520

#24. Charter Oak State College

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Charter Oak State College was founded in 1973.  Connecticut Legislature was hoping to expand the state’s college offerings, thus Charter Oak State College was established.  Located across the street from Central Connecticut State University on Paul Manafort Drive, Charter Oak State College is a member of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, the states system for higher education. Charter Oak State College derives its name from Connecticut’s famous Charter Oak, an uncharacteristically large white oak tree located in Hartford.  Almost 2,300 students are enrolled at Charter Oak State College. Charter Oak State College is a public institution.

Program Overview

Enrolling in Charter Oak State College’s large online education program, students can enroll in a General Studies concentration in Sociology degree program at the school.  Despite the name, the General Studies concentration in Sociology degree affords the same amount of classes and education in sociology found in other competing Sociology programs.  This program is a degree-completion program and requires students to enter the program with college credits.  Students are not asked to visit the Charter Oak State College campus.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Charter Oak State College’s General Studies Concentration in Sociology is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Tuition: $13,572*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 36 credit hours and requires an additional 84 credit hours of transfer credits.

#25. Central Washington University

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For “the training and education of teachers in the art of instructing”, Washington State Legislature established Washington State Normal School, the college that would eventually become Central Washington University.  As the curriculum expanded beyond teaching, the state legislature renamed the school to Central Washington State College in 1961, then Central Washington College in 1977.  Located in Ellensburg, Central Washington State University enrolls almost 12,000 students.  Students can enroll in one of the school’s over one-hundred different degree programs.  Central Washington University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Offered online through Central Washington University’s online distance education program, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program.  Designed to be taken entirely online, students are able to customize their class schedule to fit their scheduling needs.  The program is a degree-completion program and requires students to enter with credits to enroll in the course.  Students are not required to visit the Central Washington University campus at any point.  In the program, students will learn the tools, both conceptual and methodological, required to be a sociologist.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Central Washington University’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

Tuition: $22,140*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 45 credit hours and requires an additional 75 credit hours of transfer credits.

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