Sociology
First Destinations
First Destinations
This graph illustrates the first destinations of recent alumni from the last four graduating classes. Details for each of these categories can be found below.
- 52% Employment
- 27% Graduate School
- 5% Post-Graduate Service
- 9% Fellowships
- 0% Continuing Education
- 7% Other
Top Locations
Top Locations
These are among the top locations of graduates in this major. Whether working, studying, or volunteering, you'll find Grinnellians all over the world.
- Chicago, IL
- Iowa City, IA
- Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN
- New York, NY
- St. Louis, MO
Employment
Employment
There is no typical path of a Grinnell graduate. As this list illustrates, Grinnellians work across all types of industries working with a rich array of employers.
| Employer | Position |
|---|---|
| Finni Health | behavioral health technician |
| Goodheart-Willcox Publisher | editorial assistant |
| McMaster-Carr | management trainee |
| New York Communities for Change | bilingual community organizer |
| Sholom Community Alliance | community outreach coordinator |
| U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants | case aide |
| University of Iowa Tippie College of Business | career & outcomes specialist |
Sociology
Employment Data
| Employer | Position | Location |
|---|---|---|
| American Business Bank | human resources coordinator | Los Angeles, CA |
| American Federation of Teachers | campaign organizer | Detroit, MI |
| BlueDot Wellness | business developer | Los Angeles, CA |
| BlueTickSocial | digital marketing strategist | remote |
| Boston Children's Hospital | research assistant | Boston, MA |
| Chicago-Kent College of Law | coordinator | Chicago, IL |
| Circle Logistics | sales development representative | Chicago, IL |
| CoVar Transport | sales development representative | Tampa, FL |
| Davidson College | admission counselor | Davidson, NC |
| Dovetail Partners | project director | Minneapolis, MN |
| Edna Brewer Middle School | teacher | Oakland, CA |
| Epic | project manager | Verona, WI |
| Epic | technical solutions engineer | Verona, WI |
| Epic | trainer | Verona, WI |
| Finni Health | behavioral health technician | New York, NY |
| FirstBank | associate data analyst | Lakewood, CO |
| Flourishing Lives Counseling | marketing coordinator | Naperville, IL |
| Galena Public Library | clerk | Galena, IL |
| GlobalFoundries | tax planning & transfer pricing analyst | Austin, TX |
| Goodheart-Willcox Publisher | editorial assistant | Chicago, IL |
| Fulao2 | counselor of admission marketing | Grinnell, IA |
| Fulao2 Museum of Art | outreach assistant | Grinnell, IA |
| Hexter for House | campaign manager | Grinnell, IA |
| Hy-Vee | barista | Marion, IA |
| Insight Global | recruiter | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Insight Global | recruiter | San Francisco, CA |
| International Institute of St. Louis | anti-trafficking intern | St. Louis, MO |
| KOTRA | business consultant | Detroit, MI |
| Ladue Pharmacy | pharmacy clerk | St. Louis, MO |
| Lawrence University | admissions counselor | Appleton, WI |
| LEEP Dual Language Academy | associate teacher | Brooklyn, NY |
| Less Awkward | curriculum developer | remote |
| Marin Baseball & Softball | baseball coach | Belvedere, CA |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | clinical research coordinator | Boston, MA |
| Mayer Brown | litigation paralegal | New York, NY |
| McMaster-Carr | management trainee | Elmhurst, IL |
| New York Communities for Change | bilingual community organizer | New York, NY |
| Nichols Kaster | case development clerk | Minneapolis, MN |
| North American language & Culture Assistants Program | English conversation assistant | Arcos de la Frontera, Spain |
| North American Language & Culture Assistants Program | language & culture assistant | A Pontenova, Spain |
| Orleans County District Attorney | intern | Albion, NY |
| Randall's Island Park Alliance | urban farm intern | New York, NY |
| Rangoon Brooklyn | server/bartender | New York, NY |
| RVO Health | software engineer | Charlotte, NC |
| Self-Help Credit Union | commercial lending intern | Durham, NC |
| Sholom Community Alliance | community outreach coordinator | Minneapolis, MN |
| The Society of Good Friends | conversational English teacher | Kasaoka, Japan |
| Sucia Island Marine State Parks | senior park aide | Eastsound, WA |
| Supportive Living Solutions | case manager | St. Paul, MN |
| SwimSwam | content creator | remote |
| Teaching Assistant Program in France | teaching assistant | Montbéliard, France |
| Teaching Assistant Program in France | teaching assistant | Nancy-Metz, France |
| U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants | case aide | Des Moines, IA |
| U.S. Department of Energy | grants management specialist | Chicago, IL |
| U.S. Forest Service | natural resource specialist/social scientist | Fort Jones, CA |
| University of Colorado | admissions counselor | Colorado Springs, CO |
| University of Iowa Tippie College of Business | career & outcomes specialist | Iowa City, IA |
| World Relief | virtual reception & placement case specialist | Baltimore, MD |
| Xplore Asia | teacher | Japan |
| Youable Emotional Health | child and adolescent mental health case manager | Richfield, MN |
Positions Related to Career Goals
Positions Related to Career Goals
This graph illustrates the extent to which our graduates' first job is aligned with their career goals. It's one thing to find a job; it's an entirely different thing to land the job you want!
- 27% Completely
- 48% Moderately
- 18% Slightly
- 6% Not at All
Graduate Schools
Graduate Schools
Grinnell graduates are particularly well prepared for graduate study. You'll find Grinnellians attend the best graduate and professional school programs around the world.
| Institution | Degree | Field of Study |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Institute of Technology | MS | human-computer interaction |
| London School of Economics & Political Science | MSc | sociology |
| University of Chicago | MA | computational social science |
| University of Illinois | PhD | sociology |
| University of Iowa | MPH | community & behavioral health |
| University of Oxford | MPhil | comparative social policy |
| University of Pennsylvania | JD | law |
Sociology
Graduate Schools Data
| Institution | Degree | Field of Study | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | certification | commercial real estate | Ithaca, NY |
| Georgetown University | MPP | government/public policy | Washington, DC |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | MS | human-computer interaction | Atlanta, GA |
| Harvard University | JD | law | Cambridge, MA |
| London School of Economics & Political Science | MSc | sociology | London, UK |
| Mercy University | BSN | nursing | Des Moines, IA |
| Nantes Université | MA | environmental humanities | Nantes, France |
| Northern Arizona University | MA | clinical mental health counseling | Flagstaff, AZ |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso Paul Foster School of Medicine | MD | medicine | El Paso, TX |
| University of California | MS | computational social science | San Diego, CA |
| University of California | MTM | translational medicine | San Francisco, CA |
| University of Central Missouri | MA | communications | Warrensburg, MO |
| University of Chicago | MA | computational social science | Chicago, IL |
| University of Chicago | MA | sociology | Chicago, IL |
| University of Chicago | MSW | social work | Chicago, IL |
| University of Illinois | JD | law | Chicago, IL |
| University of Illinois | PhD | sociology | Urbana-Champaign, IL |
| University of Iowa | JD | law | Iowa City, IA |
| University of Iowa | MPH | community & behavioral health | Iowa City, IA |
| University of Iowa | MPH | epidemiology | Iowa City, IA |
| University of Iowa | PhD | sociology | Iowa City, IA |
| University of Michigan | JD | law | Ann Arbor, MI |
| University of Michigan | MSW | social work/sports psychology | Ann Arbor, MI |
| University of Michigan | PhD | computer science & engineering | Ann Arbor, MI |
| University of Minnesota | MS | mechanical engineering | Minneapolis, MN |
| University of Oregon | PhD | sociology | Eugene, OR |
| University of Oxford | MPhil | comparative social policy | Oxford, UK |
| University of Oxford | MSc | sociology | Oxford, UK |
| University of Pennsylvania | JD | law | Philadelphia, PA |
| University of Wisconsin | MSW | social work | Madison, WI |
Graduate School Acceptance Info
Of those who applied to and were accepted to at least one program, this chart illustrates the percentage of admitted students who were accepted to either their first or second choice program and institution.
88%
88% of students are accepted to their first or second choice graduate institution and program
Service
Service
Each year, Grinnellians advance causes and serve communities around the world as full-time volunteers.
Organization
- Breakthrough Twin Cities
- City Year Greater Boston
- Conservation Corps
Sociology
Service Data
| Organization | Location |
|---|---|
| AmeriCorps | Iowa City, IA |
| AmeriCorps | Trenton, NJ |
| Breakthrough Twin Cities | St. Paul, MN |
| City Year Greater Boston | Boston, MA |
| Conservation Corps | Minneapolis, MN |
| Conservation Corps Iowa | Des Moines, IA |
Fellowships
Fellowships
Grinnell has a rich history of producing recipients of some of the most prestigious post-graduate fellowships and awards.
Organization
- American India Foundation
- Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship
- Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs
- The Fulbright Program
Sociology
Fellowships Data
| Organization | Location |
|---|---|
| Abigail Kawānanakoa Foundation | Washington, DC |
| American India Foundation | Bengalaru, India |
| Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship | Cleveland, OH |
| Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs | St. Louis, MO |
| Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship | Sacramento, CA |
| National Institutes of Health | Bethesda, MD |
| The Fulbright Program | Luodong, Taiwan |
| The Fulbright Program | Ostrava, Czechia |
| The Fulbright Program | San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica |
| Thomas J. Watson Fellowship | Canada, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Thailand |
Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning
Participation in high-impact experiences is a hallmark of a Grinnell education. The following graphs illustrate the percentage of graduates who completed internships, research experiences (both on- and off-campus), service, and/or off-campus study prior to graduating from Grinnell.
Internships
66%
Sociology
Internships Data
| Organization | Field | Location |
|---|---|---|
| AgCertain Industries | business administration/management | Ames, IA |
| Americans for the Arts | government/public policy | Washington, DC |
| AmeriCorps | education | Grinnell, IA |
| AmeriCorps | education | Minneapolis, MN |
| ANYAR | education | Panama City, Panama |
| APi Group | business administration/management | New Brighton, MN |
| Ballparks of America | business administration/management | Branson, MO |
| Barnes Foundation | creative/performing arts | Philadelphia, PA |
| Bellwether Consulting | government/public policy | Minneapolis, MN |
| BioXFEL NSF Science & Technology Center | research/science | Buffalo, NY |
| BlueTickSocial | sales/marketing | remote |
| Bohannon for Congress | government/public policy | Iowa City, IA |
| Boys & Girls Club of Topeka Teen Center | education | Topeka, KS |
| Breakthrough Twin Cities | education | Minneapolis, MN |
| Brookline Center for Community Mental Health | social services | Boston, MA |
| Canopy NWA | social services | Fayetteville, AR |
| Casa Alitas | social services | Tucson, AZ |
| Center for Constitutional Rights | law/legal services | New York, NY |
| Center for Human-Environmental Research | environment/sustainability | remote |
| City Council | government/public policy | Los Angeles, CA |
| City of Grinnell | government/public policy | Grinnell, IA |
| City of Minneapolis | government/public policy | Minneapolis, MN |
| Compulse | sales/marketing | Los Angeles, CA |
| Cow Tipping Press | education | Minneapolis, MN |
| Cox-Smith Funeral & Cremation Service of Grinnell | social services | Grinnell, IA |
| Cre8Lab | communications/media | remote |
| Crisis Intervention Services | social services | Oskaloosa, IA |
| Dallas Museum of Art | creative/performing arts | Dallas, TX |
| Design Museum Foundation | communications/media | Boston, MA |
| Dovetail Partners | environment/sustainability | Minneapolis, MN |
| Drink Local Drink Tap | environment/sustainability | Cleveland, OH |
| EchoAce | communications/media | San Francisco, CA |
| Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | law/legal services | Chicago, IL |
| Externat des Enfants Nantais | education | Nantes, France |
| Flow Media | creative/performing arts | Cedar Rapids, IA |
| Gathr Now | sales/marketing | San Francisco, CA |
| Georgia Innocence Project | law/legal services | Atlanta, GA |
| GlobalFoundries | business administration/management | Austin, TX |
| computing/technology | remote | |
| Grinnell Area Arts Council | creative/performing arts | Grinnell, IA |
| Grinnell Area Arts Council | creative/performing arts | Grinnell, IA |
| Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce | business administration/management | Grinnell, IA |
| Fulao2 | sales/marketing | Grinnell, IA |
| Grinnell Farm to Table | social services | Grinnell, IA |
| Grinnell United Church of Christ | social services | Grinnell, IA |
| Habitat for Humanity Orange County | social services | Chapel Hill, NC |
| Hillcrest Ministries | social services | Liberty, MO |
| Holy Monastery of the Honorable Forerunner | environment/sustainability | Anatoli Agias, Greece |
| Hotel Trades Council | business administration/management | New York, NY |
| Howard University Medical School | healthcare | remote |
| IES ABroad | healthcare | Cape Town, South Africa |
| IHA Medical Group | computing/technology | Ann Arbor, MI |
| InReach | communications/media | remote |
| InReach | social services | remote |
| Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development | communications/media | remote |
| International Business Times | communications/media | London, UK |
| International Rescue Committee | law/legal services | Baltimore, MD |
| International Rescue Committee | social services | Des Moines, IA |
| Iowa Civil Rights Commission | government/public policy | Des Moines, IA |
| Jakob Kukla Studio | creative/performing arts | Portland, OR |
| Laboratoria | social services | remote |
| Less Awkward | education | remote |
| Life Care Services | sales/marketing | Des Moines, IA |
| Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office | law/legal services | Los Angeles, CA |
| Marcus Harris Foundation | social services | remote |
| Matthew 25 | communications/media | Cedar Rapids , IA |
| Midwest Conference | business administration/management | Grinnell, IA |
| Monsoon Asian & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity | social services | Des Moines, IA |
| Monsoon Asian & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity | social services | Des Moines, IA |
| Mudchute Park and Farm | environment/sustainability | London, UK |
| National Endowment for Democracy | government/public policy | Washington, DC |
| New York Neo-Futurists | creative/performing arts | New York, NY |
| North Carolina General Assembly | government/public policy | Raleigh, NC |
| Office of U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono | government/public policy | Washington, DC |
| Outsider | communications/media | Nashville, TN |
| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | communications/media | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Public Defense Office | law/legal services | Iowa City, IA |
| Rainforest Learning Center | education | Chicago, IL |
| Refugees Welcome Stockholm | social services | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Rogers & Rosewater | social services | San Francisco, CA |
| RVO Health | computing/technology | Charlotte, NC |
| Science Museum of Minnesota | education | St. Paul, MN |
| Shahid Buttar for Congress | communications/media | San Francisco, CA |
| Shalom Bayit | social services | San Francisco, CA |
| SIT Abroad | education | remote |
| Sitka Conservation Society | environment/sustainability | Sitka, AK |
| SLAM | sales/marketing | New York, NY |
| Sustainable Outcomes | consulting | New Delhi, India |
| TechStyleOS | business administration/management | El Segundo, CA |
| Truth Media | communications/media | Brooklyn, NY |
| TurnUp Activism | government/public policy | remote |
| Twin Cities Food Justice | environment/sustainability | Minneapolis, MN |
| U.S. Census Bureau | government/public policy | Little Rock, AR |
| U.S. Foreign Service | government/public policy | Washington, DC |
| U.S. House of Representatives | government/public policy | Washington, DC |
| United Action for Youth | social services | Iowa City, IA |
| University of Chicago | government/public policy | Chicago , IL |
| University of Iowa | healthcare | Iowa City, IA |
| University of Michigan | government/public policy | Ann Arbor, MI |
| University of Michigan | law/legal services | Ann Arbor, MI |
| USDC of the Eastern District of California | law/legal services | Sacramento, CA |
| Vairav Technology | computing/technology | remote |
| Virtual Student Federal Service | government/public policy | remote |
| Vivo Foundation | education | Chicago, IL |
| VMLY&R Commerce | communications/media | Chicago, IL |
| Youth Initiative for Human Rights Serbia | government/public policy | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Zumwalt Acres | environment/sustainability | Sheldon, IL |
Research
55%
Sociology
Research Data
| Organization | Field | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor College of Medicine | T cells and COPD | Houston, TX |
| Carnegie Mellon University | educational technology | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Earlham College | border studies | Tucson, AZ |
| Embassy of Nepal | USA - Nepal trade policies | Washington, DC |
| Harvard University | organizational behavior | Cambridge, MA |
| Institute for Integrated Development Studies | digital infrastructure in Nepal | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Purdue University | physics | West Lafayette, IN |
| Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge | dispersal of creosote seeds by harvester ants | La Joya, NM |
| Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital | genome editing | Guangzhou, China |
| University of California | globalization & authoritarian politics | Berkeley, CA |
| University of Maryland | algorithm robusticity | remote |
| University of Michigan | human-computer interaction & AI | Ann Arbor, MI |
| University of Minnesota | racial school segregation | Minneapolis, MN |
| University of Washington | human-computer interaction and accessibility | Seattle, WA |
Service
73%
Off-Campus Study
52%