MSU Sociology Favorably Ranked among Sociology PhD Programs in USA and Globally

June 27, 2022

MSU’s Sociology Doctoral Program ranks quite favorably relative to its peers in the USA and around the world, according to an array of reports.  Department of Sociology Chairperson Aaron M. McCright remarks, “these favorable rankings are the result of much hard work by our dedicated faculty and students, and they reflect the successes we have achieved across many years.”

Multiple systems purport to rank the quality and impact of discipline-based doctoral programs in the USA and around the world.  Most use a combination of quantifiable metrics, such as scholarly publications, extramural funding, and graduate job placement.  At least one depends entirely upon the subjective judgements of the leaders of other doctoral programs.  MSU’s Sociology Doctoral Program occupies advantageous positions relative to our US and global peers in both types of metric-based and reputation-based systems.

MSU’s Sociology Doctoral Program maintains the following rankings in comparison with all US Sociology PhD programs:

  • 18th according to Best Value Schools (metric-based);
  • 26th according to Shanghai Rankings (metric-based);
  • 27th according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings (metric-based);
  • 29th according to QS World University Rankings (metric-based); and
  • 54th according to US News & World Report (reputation-based).

MSU’s Sociology Doctoral Program maintains the following rankings in comparison with all Sociology PhD programs in the world:

  • 36th according to Shanghai Rankings (metric-based);
  • 60th according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings (metric-based);
  • 117th according to QS World University Rankings (metric-based).