Average IQ of Sociology majors

The average IQ of Sociology majors is estimated at about 116, higher than about 86% of people. The estimate comes from SAT and GRE score research. It describes a typical student, not a requirement: people in every major score well above and below it.

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Sociology 116

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Key facts

Estimated average IQ: 116
Basis: SAT and GRE correlation research, converted to the IQ scale
Dominant archetype: The Observer
Common traits: Systems Thinking, Empathy
Career paths: Social Work, HR

What the evidence says

No study measures IQ by degree, so the 116 is an estimate built from SAT and GRE results for the field. It describes a typical sociology student, not a requirement. Men working as social scientists in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study have a median of about 111, which is lower, but that group is wider than sociology graduates and is a different generation.

Sociology students tend to score a little higher on verbal than on quantitative tests. Among people planning a graduate degree in the social and behavioral sciences, the average GRE Verbal score is 153.3 against 151.2 for all test takers, though that is a self-selected group.

Most sociology graduates do not become sociologists. Common routes are social services, human resources, research, policy, marketing and teaching, where reading, writing and reasoning with evidence matter more than a particular score.

Figure	Value
LifeScore estimate, majors	about 116
Social scientists, Wisconsin studyMedian for men in social science jobs (economists, psychologists, sociologists and similar), middle half about 98 to 120.	about 111

Sociology next to other degrees

Estimated averages for the nine degrees nearest Sociology in our ranking of 51. Gaps of a few points are smaller than the error in the estimates.

Degree	Estimated IQ	Higher than
Psychology	118	88% of people
Accounting	117	87% of people
Public Health	117	87% of people
Religious Studies	117	87% of people
Sociology	116	86% of people
Supply Chain Management	116	86% of people
Art History	115	84% of people
Film Studies	115	84% of people
Journalism	115	84% of people

Check any score with the IQ percentile calculator or the IQ chart.

What test scores show for the field

GRE averages for people planning a graduate degree in the same broad field, from ETS data for July 2023 to June 2024. ETS groups sociology with psychology, economics and political science. Sociology is not shown on its own in this table.

Group	Test takers	Verbal	Quantitative
Social and Behavioral Sciences	26,906	153.3	156.5
All GRE test takers	256,215	151.2	157.6

GRE takers are a self-selected group that includes many international applicants, so this shows the field’s skills profile, not its IQ.

What studying Sociology is like

Sociology is a filtering environment. It rewards certain strengths (and exposes certain weaknesses). Use this as a self-selection tool.

The hardest part of Sociology is not the content, it’s the feedback loop. You’re often judged by correctness, precision, and the ability to explain your reasoning.

Dominant archetype: The Observer. This archetype tends to be rewarded in the culture and study style of Sociology.

Common traits include Systems Thinking and Empathy. Typical career paths include Social Work and HR.

Jobs for Sociology graduates

Sociology: common questions

What is the average IQ of a sociology major?

About 116 is our estimate, based on SAT and GRE research converted to the IQ scale. It describes a typical student, and many strong sociology students score above or below it.

Is sociology a hard major?

It is reading and writing heavy rather than maths heavy, with statistics and research methods in most programs. Students who like arguments built from evidence usually find it manageable.

What IQ do you need to study sociology?

There is no IQ requirement. You need to meet the entry grades for your course and be willing to read and write a lot.

Do sociology majors have a higher IQ than psychology majors?

Our estimate puts sociology at 116 and psychology at 118. The gap is smaller than the error in the estimates, so treat them as similar.

What jobs can you get with a sociology degree?

Social work, human resources, research, policy, community work, marketing and teaching are common. The job pages linked below show the demands of each role.

What kind of person enjoys Sociology?

Common traits include Systems Thinking and Empathy.

What careers can Sociology lead to?

Typical career paths include Social Work and HR.