Best Sociology Schools Near Gaffney, SC (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Gaffney, South Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering sociology programs, with tuition ranging from $34,760 to $47,091 per year for indexed programs. Gaffney has a population of about 12,612. Median household income is $41,214 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In South Carolina, the top-earning sociology-related role is Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary at a median $78,410 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Sociology Schools to Gaffney

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer sociology programs near Gaffney, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Gaffney city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Gaffney. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

University of South Carolina-Upstate

Spartanburg, SC 18.6 miles from Gaffney
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
53.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,587
Avg net price $13,557/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 53

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC 36.5 miles from Gaffney
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
53.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,185
Avg net price $15,343/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 53

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Presbyterian College

Clinton, SC 43.8 miles from Gaffney
  • 4 year
52.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,194
Avg net price $20,528/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Furman University

Greenville, SC 45.6 miles from Gaffney
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
74.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 84%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $68,635
Avg net price $30,308/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 52

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Newberry College

Newberry, SC 54.5 miles from Gaffney
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
42.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,040
Avg net price $21,656/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Lander University

Greenwood, SC 67.0 miles from Gaffney
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,396
Avg net price $15,363/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Clemson University

Clemson, SC 72.2 miles from Gaffney
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
80.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 84%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $71,513
Avg net price $22,253/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 93%
  • Programs offered: 136

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC 82.6 miles from Gaffney
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
74.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 77%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,177
Avg net price $22,811/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 165

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Carolina schools on the South Carolina sociology page.

Sociology Wages Near Gaffney

Occupation Median Annual Wage (South Carolina, statewide)
Sociologists N/A
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary $78,410
Social and Human Service Assistants $38,550
Survey Researchers N/A
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $51,800
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $69,440
Social Science Research Assistants $64,490
Social and Community Service Managers $73,410

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Gaffney at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 12,612 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $41,214 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 21.8% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Gaffney-Area Cities With Sociology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited sociology schools are near Gaffney, SC?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering sociology programs near Gaffney. The closest is Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC (12.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Furman University (45.6 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying sociology roles in South Carolina?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying sociology-related roles in South Carolina are: Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary ($78,410), Social and Community Service Managers ($73,410), Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists ($69,440). Wages for Gaffney workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Shelby instead of Gaffney?

Shelby, NC is 16.2 miles from Gaffney and has its own set of local sociology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Gaffney an affordable place to study sociology?

Gaffney’s median household income of $41,214 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gaffney while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Carolina public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Sociology Programs

Other Programs Available in Gaffney

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Gaffney:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Sociology Schools in South Carolina (2026)