Top 25 Sociology Graduate Programs US News and World Report 2013 Rankings

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1 Top 25 Sociology Graduate Programs US News and World Report 2013 Rankings *Funding Structure: Statements about funding opportunities are pulled directly from program websites. While most programs say that they offer funding for all admitted students, it is important to clarify what they mean by this. Programs generally offer some combination of teaching stipends, research stipends, and/or tuition reductions/waivers to admitted students. However, not all students receive all of these resources, and not all students are supported for the same amount of time. It is important to clarify funding opportunities with each individual department, speak with current students about the reality of the funding situation, and always be seeking additional sources of funding during and after the admission process. **Admission Rates: While some programs publish admission rates, many do not. This is because most programs strive for a consistent entering cohort size. Thus, the admission rate will vary from year-to-year based on the number of applicants. ***PhD Completion Rate: Information in this column is varied. Some programs were able to share the percentage of incoming students who complete a PhD within ten years (i.e. the number who do not drop out). Some programs did not have this information, but instead provided the average number of years it takes for most students to complete the PhD. Some programs did not provide either statistic. ****GPA and GRE scores: While some programs publish this information, many do not. This is because graduate school admission committees look at each applicant s file holistically, rather than simply relying on GPA or test score cutoffs, as some undergraduate or masters programs might. Application committees consider the applicant s entire life history, work experience, writing, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and research interests to assess whether or not that applicant would be a good fit for the program. While most programs like to see a GPA of at least 3.0, the individual GPA and GRE scores of admitted students may vary significantly. Thus, many programs feel that publishing such information would actually be counterproductive, as some qualified students may rule themselves out due to not meeting the cutoff, and other students may think they have an in based on their test scores, but might actually not be a good fit for the program. Indeed, it is recommended that applicants focus more on specific programmatic fit (intellectual community, research clusters, faculty research, etc.) to make their application decisions, rather than relying on GPA or GRE benchmarks. Rank School Name Score Funding Statement* Admission Rate** Entering Cohort Size Rate of PhD completion within 10 years*** Average GPA**** Average GRE Score**** CC Representation (former or current) 1 Princeton Princeton, NJ (609) Graduate students ordinarily receive fellowships (full tuition and a stipend) that are renewed to cover the first five years of enrollment (contingent upon satisfactory progress through the program). Unlike most graduate programs, these fellowships do not require students to work as research assistant. When students do work as research assistants, as most will do at some point during the program, the money they earn is over and above the fellowship amount. Varies. 2013/14: 15 but 5 PhDs were awarded

2 1 of California- Berkeley Berkeley, CA (510) of Wisconsin- Madison Madison, WI Stanford Stanford, CA (650) of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI (734) Through departmental grants and universitylevel fellowships, the Department makes every effort to create an attractive funding package for every accepted student. In the last number of years most all the entering students have received 5 year funding packages comprised of a mix of university and departmental fellowships as well as academic teaching or research work. 4.7 The Department guarantees five continuous years of funding to all students, starting in the fall of Sources of funding will vary, and include, but are not limited to: project assistantships, teaching assistantships, research appointments, traineeships and fellowships. The department nominates a number of students with the most promising academic records for fellowships. 4.6 The department currently provides students with funding for the first five academic years, including the first three summers. 4.6 All students admitted to the Sociology Ph.D. Program are provided with five-year funding packages. Typically, these funding packages consist of a combination of fellowships and graduate student instructorships from a variety of resources including the Sociology Department and the Rackham Graduate School, and through traineeships from the 9% 2013/14: year average: 16 Most recent: 14.6% 10-year average: 30% 2012/13: Year Average: 47% About 90% verbal 157 quantitative 5.0 writing The Graduate School has set a GPA minimum of 3.0. The Graduate Program of the Department of Sociology and the Department of Community and Environmental Sociology has no strict cutoffs. Typically, the student we admit has an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3. We prefer to see a GPA of 3.6 and above. Varies. 2013/14: 12 There is not a minimum score required for evaluation of your application by the committee. Scores are reviewed in the context of the applicant's entire file. Last year: 270 applications were received, and offers were made to 30 (11% 3-year average: 8 Shoot for about 12 for entering cohort 100 percent of students who entered the doctoral program between 2000 and 2004 completed the PhD as of August Applicants who have been admitted have undergraduate grade point averages in social sciences courses of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 system, with the mean around 3.5. In recent We consider a GRE score below the 50th percentile to be weak and a GRE above the 75th percentile to be good. There is not a minimum score required for evaluation of your application by the committee. Scores are reviewed in the context of the applicant's entire file. average verbal and quantitative Graduate Record Examination percentile scores have been above the 80th percentile, although there is considerable variation around this value Rachel A. Wright (formerly Rachel Lindenberg) Drew Foster

3 6 Harvard Cambridge, MA (617) of Chicago Chicago, IL (773) of North Carolina- Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC (919) Population Studies Center (for those interested in demography), all of which include a full tuition waiver and health care benefits. 4.5 For PhD students, Harvard awards full financial support for five years, typically for the first four years of study as well as the completion year. Ordinarily, in cases where the length of PhD study extends beyond five years, students secure financial support through various Harvard and non-harvard opportunities, including research fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching fellowships. 4.5 New Funding structure started in 2007: Cut the size of the entering cohorts to make fewer, better funded offers. Full-tuition plus basic health insurance for five years. Unless they have funding from an outside source. This was a change from 4-years. Now it is 5 years Two levels 1) Tuition plus health insurance for 5 years plus a stipend starting in the third year of $22,000 in support. 2) Higher level awards the $22,000 starting in first year (rather than third year) 4.5 Our department provides funding to its students in the form of tuition remission for the first 5 years. In addition, we have been able to consistently provide funding through Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships for the first 4 years, contingent acceptance) 31, % Changes every year, based on funding. There is a Sociology Proper program plus 3 joint programs. Between all 4, cohort tends to be students. Just sociology: 11 offers for 8 students. Average rate of PhD completion is 7.5 years. 90%. But probably closer to 100%. One of the lowest dropout rates. Also One of the highest placement rates. Time to completion: 7-8 years Varies. About 14. Stated duration of program: 7-8 years, but some have finished in six. In recent years we have averaged almost 200 applicants years 3.5 and above Top percentiles are preferred. Quant is more important than qual. 3.7 Five-Year Average: Verbal: 92%-93% Quantitative: 77% Analytical: 78% About The average GRE scores for admitted students in recent years were 90th percentile in Verbal and 75th percentile in Quantitative. Kathy Giuffre

4 9 of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA (310) on satisfactory performance in the department. The result is that almost every student who completes the doctorate in a timely fashion is funded throughout their entire graduate career. 4.4 UCLA has various funding opportunities and almost all admitted PhD sociology students obtain competitive funding packages depending on their merit and progress in the program. per year and accepted approximate ly 15 percent of them. 19% About 15 56% "B" average in all upper division and graduate level work Eric Popkin 10 Northwestern Evanston, IL of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA (215) Columbia New York, NY (212) The Graduate School offers full tuition and a stipend to all students accepted to the PhD program for five years of study. 4.3 Five year funding package: includes tuition, stipend, and healthcare for all admitted students. (Some students were admitted but awaiting funding.) 2 nd and 3 rd year students are required to TA for four semesters. 4.2 The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) typically provides multi-year fellowships to all incoming Sociology Ph.D. students who request funding. Five-year average: 12% Five-year average: 11 Varies. Pretty much 100% of students complete within ten years. 6 PhDs were awarded in in 2013/14; 11 in 2012/13; 8 in 2011/12 Varies. 2013/14: /13: /12: /11: /10: 7 but 5 PhDs were 8 were awarded Old Scoring Average: 3.8 Verbal 680; Quantitative 720; and Analytical 5.0 Carla Medalia Mary Patrick 12 Indiana - Bloomington Bloomington, IN (812) We offer five-year financial packages to all admitted students. Funding comes in the form of graduate assistantships or associate instructor positions which provide a stipend, health insurance, and a tuition remission. In recent years, about 150 applicants have competed for 10 to 12 openings in the first-year cohort. 2013/14: 10 plus 3 exchange students but 10 PhDs were 5 were awarded Satisfactory: GRE scores are above the 70th percentile in each of the three categories verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing. GPA of 3.3 or better Jaime Kucinskas, Evelyn Perry

5 14 Duke Durham, NC (919) of Texas-Austin Austin, TX (512) New York New York, NY (212) Financial aid is awarded to most graduate students for five years of study and sometimes longer. First year awards are given competitively to the strongest entering graduate students judged on prior academic records. Additional summer employment is often available. From the second through the fifth year, tuition and registration fee scholarships will continue for students doing satisfactory work. Usually stipends for advanced students are in the form of teaching assistantships or research assistantships on faculty-directed research projects. Other support is available through fellowships. 4.1 Through Assistant Instructor, Teaching Assistant, and Research Assistant appointments, as well as a myriad of university, government, and private fellowships, we are typically successful in funding 100% of our graduate students during the academic year. 4.0 All students admitted into the Ph.D. program are offered full funding from NYU. The NYU Department of Sociology only accepts students whom we can fully fund for a minimum of five years. The funding generally covers full tuition, fees, student health insurance plus a fellowship stipend. In addition, students have the opportunity to teach. Teaching is separate from the funding package, and any teaching compensation is above and beyond the fellowship support. 10%-24% admission rate since admitted 27 out of 149 applicants, or 18% Roughly 15% admission rate We typically receive approximate ly 400 applications. The amount of students admitted every year varies, but, typically, we offer admission to about students (closer to 15) Usually shoot for an entering cohort of approximately 8-10 students. 7 PhDs were The range has been from 3-11 PhDs awarded/year since Between 6.2 and 6.6 people graduate with a PhD within ten years. Higher than 90% scores: Verbal:162 Quantitative: 154 Old Scores: Verbal: 584 Quantitative: 647 We do not keep track of the average GPA or GRE score of admitted students. GPAs and GREs are one of several factors we consider when making admission decisions. We also consider research experiences, statement of research interests, fit with the graduate program, and other factors. Upper-grade GPA: Upper-grade GPA: 3.68 We do not keep track of the average GPA or GRE score of admitted students. GPAs and GREs are one of several factors we consider when making admission decisions. We also consider research experiences, statement of research interests, fit with the graduate program, and other factors. Toni Pizza

6 17 Cornell Ithaca, NY (607) Ohio State Columbus, OH (614) Cornell funding packages typically offer five years of support, covering all tuition and providing a stipend for living expenses (including during the summer). In recent years, the field has been able to support students beyond their fifth year, usually through grantfunded graduate research assistantships. Any admitted student is offered a 5-year deal. 3.9 All graduate students admitted to the Department will be considered for departmental support as Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAs), Graduate Administrative Associates (GAAs), or Graduate Research Associates (GRAs) for the normal progress period needed to complete their degrees. Most of our students work as GTAs. These associateships provide valuable teaching, research and academic experiences as well as financial support. Usually have between applicants, and make about 20 offers Not published. Generally about /14 cohort: 11 Pretty much all of them finish within 7 years but 3 PhDs were 3 were awarded GRE is more important than GPA GRE is more important than GPA 3.6 or better 17 Pennsylvania State - Park Park, PA (814) All students admitted to the program receive research assistantships or teaching assistantships. This funding package includes a stipend and a tuition waiver. We also have a strong record of providing summer support. Students entering with a BA receive funding for five, and with an MA it is four years Everyone who applies is considered for funding. Everyone who enrolls is on some sort of funding. Because we only admit the number of students we are able to fund. The department will admit about 25 students each year to its graduate programs. About 175 students apply. Hovers around 10 Probably 90% complete The vast majority of students admitted to the program score above 310 on the GRE (verbal and quantitative combined). Most students admitted to the program have GPAs above 3.7. Lauren Hughes 20 of Arizona Tucson, AZ (520) The vast majority of full-time students in the school receive some form of financial support. Not published. 2011/12 cohort: 10 No minimum score is required for admission. However, students with scores below the 50th percentile must offer especially strong supporting materials to be competitive. Students must have a minimum of 3.0 to be considered. Students with averages near the bottom of the acceptable range must offer especially strong supporting materials. Wade Roberts

7 20 of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN (612) of Washington Seattle, WA (206) Yale New Haven, CT (203) The department seeks to provide funding to all of its students in good standing throughout the length of their residency. This funding typically comes in the form of teaching or research assistantships of 50% which provides free tuition, subsided health insurance, and a stipend of approximately $14,000 over nine months. 3.8 All applicants who are offered admission to the department are considered for funding, and historically we have been able to fund our students through most if not all of their time in graduate school. Most of our funding packages are modest multi-year packages that cover tuition and health insurance, and include a job working as a Teaching Assistant for our undergraduate courses. Many of our graduate students apply for and receive research or fellowship monies that allow them to focus more directly on their coursework or research. Departmental funding for continuing graduate students is contingent on continued good progress through the program and the state s budget situation. 3.8 All accepted students are fully funded for five years. In the first four years they receive full tuition and a living stipend and in the fifth or sixth year students are eligible for the dissertation write-up fellowship. In the third and fourth years students are required to serve as teaching fellows to receive their stipend. In , the 12-month stipend is $25,000. Admission rate since has ranged from 11.1% ( ) to 32.7% ( ) Entering cohort has ranged from In , there were 10 in the entering cohort. 4% Between six and ten new students are admitted each year. but 7 PhDs were awarded in % are awarded a PhD within 10 years. Average time to completion: 7.3 years. On average, successful applicants to the program have Verbal scores of 162, Quantitative scores of 155, and Analytical scores of 5.0 (new scoring). Old Scoring: In recent years the average verbal score of applicants admitted into our program was in the low 600s, and the average quantitative score of admitted applicants was closer to 700 The undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of recent top applicants has been 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. Graduate applicants typically have GPA's of 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. If your GPA is not of this quality it will behoove you to address this deficiency in your Statement of Professional Objectives. 10-year average: Ranged from Most recent: 3.69 Deb Smith Sarah Diefendorf Sandi Wong

8 24 of Maryland- College Park College Park, MD (301) Brown Providence, RI (401) Most graduate students are supported financially by sources connected with the department. Nearly all research and teaching assistantships, as well as university fellowships, include tuition waivers and benefits. Stipends for graduate assistantships and fellowships range from $14,500 to $16,000. Very competitive students who receive fellowships through the graduate school or through the department are also offered one-half of a graduate assistantship for a total stipend ranging from $21,750 to $22, The graduate school currently provides five years of funding to students in good standing. The course of study for the sociology PhD is designed to be completed in five years and students are encouraged to do so. We recognize that in certain cases, especially when involving primary data collection, the course of study may extend into a sixth and seventh year. Students who need to extend the course of study beyond five years must remain in good standing and will be expected to secure external funding. We typically receive over 220 applications for spots in our incoming class. Last year we were able to admit less than 10% of applicants 2013/14 cohort: 11 but 7 PhDs were 4 were awarded but 7 PhDs were 5 were awarded Most of the applicants who are admitted to our program typically have a combined verbal and quantitative score of above a 315 on the new test. Many of our admitted applicants have GRE scores in the top deciles. The graduate school also requires that a student have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA in order to be admitted without provision to any of the of Maryland's graduate programs. Kathleen Denny