THE BEST SMALL COLLEGES FOR A SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY DEGREE

Barnard has the distinct advantage of a close relationship with Columbia University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. Barnard's archaeology and anthropology departments are definitely beneficiaries of this collaboration, with plenty of faculty sharing duties between these two distinguished schools. But Barnard's Columbia connection isn't the only factor that makes it one of the best small colleges for anthropology and archaeology. The school also offers a suite of grants to support research and fieldwork, plenty of study abroad opportunities, and some especially unusual courses (including "Sorcery and Magic" and "Pirates, Boys, and Capitalism").

Net Price: $23,741/yr

Trinity College has relationships with two local non-profit organizations that provide terrific internship opportunities for students interested in the intersection of anthropology and health. Both Hartford's Hispanic Health Council and the Institute for Community Research do work on issues of health and disease in cities, focusing particularly on the role of culture. And because over half of undergrads at this affordable small college for sociology and anthropology majors engage in internships, students shouldn't have any trouble working such opportunities into their coursework. To supplement these real-life experiences, classes like Medical Anthropology and Anthropology and Global Health impart a solid theoretical understanding of important issues in human health.

Net Price: $23,980/yr

Skidmore's tight-knit Sociology department is a big part of what earns the school a spot on this top sociology programs ranking. The department newsletter, regular gatherings, and the bonding experience of the school's demanding Senior Seminar all combine to help undergrads form friendships that will last long after graduation. Perhaps the other biggest perk of attending Skidmore is its catalog of interesting, albeit atypical, courses - especially for sociology majors. Although few are as exciting as "Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender and Media" (from the 2014 course catalog), the school continues to pique students' interests with novel classes like Race and Power, Quantifying Women, and The Sociology of Folklore.

Net Price: $24,038/yr

Trinity maintains a list of nearly 100 study abroad opportunities, many of which are ideal complements to the school's top undergraduate sociology program. Sociology majors can visit Senegal for a Language and Culture program; Vietnam for a Culture, Social Change, and Development training program; or a number of other sites in India, Japan, Denmark, Turkey, and many other countries. Trinity strongly encourages its sociology majors to take advantage of the chance to study other nations - or to simply get a change of scenery - and even facilitates domestic experiences at other colleges in the US. Like many of the schools on this list, Trinity sees studying abroad as a vital element of a sociology education — but Trinity does more than most to support that endeavor.

Net Price: $26,165/yr

Pitzer's affordable anthropology undergraduate program features two separate but interwoven tracks — the more theoretical social and cultural anthropology concentration, and the more field-based biological anthropology and archaeology focus. Although many of the best small colleges for anthropology and archaeology offer both programs, Pitzer is fairly unusual in having the support of another school — nearby Scripps College — in building out its degree. The Pitzer-Scripps Anthropology Program provides the opportunity to pursue either the Sociocultural or Human Evolution, Prehistory and Material Culture track, or combine both for a particularly rigorous academic program. The latter option also allows students to build a customized course of study that incorporates their specific interests in each field.

Net Price: $26,288/yr

While many schools think internships are only important for career-focused programs like business, Connecticut College begs to differ. In fact, CC makes on-the-job learning available to undergrads of all majors - and even provides $3,000 stipends to help assist with internship costs. This level of support is one of the primary attractions for anthropology students, who can apply for international internships in Argentina, Ghana, Switzerland, and many other countries. In addition to a top anthropology undergraduate program, CC also boasts a strong set of interdisciplinary certificates, including one available through the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity. By earning a certificate, both sociology and anthropology majors can expand their knowledge in multiple subject areas without adding years to their graduation timeline.

Net Price: $27,417/yr

All students at Wooster undertake an independent study project in their senior year, which the school sees as an essential part of its focus on undergraduate research. Similar in some ways to a thesis, this requirement provides an opportunity for students to dig into a specific interest area and get a little experience with graduate-level work. In the past, anthropology majors have used this time to investigate such topics as college dating behavior, working mothers, and the academic records of student athletes. Along with the school's many other perks, this research-oriented approach to learning makes Wooster one of the best small colleges for sociology and anthropology majors - especially those who plan to earn a master's or doctoral degree.

Net Price: $28,038/yr

The St. Lawrence website encourages students to "see how many creative ways [they] can meet our requirements." As such, the college offers a host of undergraduate majors and minors to facilitate this challenge. But with sociology classes like The Web in Real Life, Cults and New Religious Movements, and China's Market Transition, sociology majors might not need to go outside of their subject to find something interesting. St. Lawrence also offers five unusual community-based learning courses as a part of its top undergraduate sociology program, which enable students to learn and earn college credit while engaging in community service projects.

Net Price: $31,010/yr

With six different programs touching on anthropology, sociology, and archaeology, Bryn Mawr boasts one of the most varied curricula of any school on this sociology programs ranking. Those drawn to digs will appreciate the Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology department, while Sociology students will be able to choose from a number of unusual programs (including an interdisciplinary Growth and Structure of Cities major). Perhaps the best feature of Bryn Mawr's approach is that the school encourages students to sample courses from other disciplines — an especially tempting prospect considering the wide number of programs on offer.

Net Price: $32,630/yr

Dickinson College is home to several purpose-built facilities that help make it one of the best small colleges for anthropology and archaeology. The Keck Biological Anthropology Lab features tools, equipment, and other useful implements for anthropology students, and the Dickinson Environmental Archaeology Lab provides a cutting-edge facility for archaebotanical analysis. One of the school's coolest features is the Simulated Excavation Field at the Keck, which provides a realistic dig simulation that includes reconstructed ruins and even physical remains. This facility is unlike any other in the world and should make Dickinson a top pick for any student looking to dig into archaeology.

Net Price: $34,079/yr