by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 540 schools to find the best return on investment for general social sciences students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in general social sciences, no school beat College Of San Mateo this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Set against $12,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Canyons one of the best values for general social sciences. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $9,776. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
San Diego Miramar College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at Yuba College, which ranked #4. Yuba College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville. Students from in state pay about $1,128 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,208. Students borrow a median of $8,729 to complete the general social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Yuba College generally make around $89,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at Frederick Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,849, while out-of-state students pay about $10,042. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,848 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $32,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
1
2
3
4
5
Mt San Antonio College landed the #6 spot for general social sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American River College placed #7 among the best values for general social sciences. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
De Anza College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,571 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,596. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $7,271. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,596 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #9 position for value in general social sciences this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $14,692. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $27,691. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sierra College earned the #10 position for value in general social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,446. Students borrow a median of $7,834 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $30,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shasta College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,853. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $12,275. General Social Sciences graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Set against $12,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Imperial Valley College landed the #12 spot for general social sciences value this year. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,176 median debt.
Folsom Lake College landed the #13 spot for general social sciences value this year. Set in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Median earnings reach $42,568 ten years out.
Butte College placed #14 among the best values for general social sciences. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $9,036. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $26,482. Set against $9,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Merced College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Merced College is a large public school located in the city of Merced. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,200, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $7,843. General Social Sciences graduates of Merced College earn a median of $34,168 early in their careers. Set against $7,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reedley College came in at #16 for value in general social sciences this year. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College came in at #17 for value in general social sciences this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $6,868. General Social Sciences graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Porterville College landed the #18 spot for general social sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Porterville, Porterville College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,438, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,328 ten years after entry.
Fresno City College came in at #19 for value in general social sciences this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $7,234. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Essex County College landed the #20 spot for general social sciences value this year. Set in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,415, while out-of-state students pay about $9,523. Students borrow a median of $5,851 to complete the general social sciences program here. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $22,053. That is a strong return on a $5,851 median debt.
Foothill College earned the #21 position for value in general social sciences this year. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $1,565, with out-of-state students paying around $12,590. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $11,595. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Woodland Community College came in at #22 for value in general social sciences this year. Woodland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Woodland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,124, while out-of-state students pay about $7,656. Median earnings reach $40,042 ten years out.
Mt San Jacinto Community College District placed #23 among the best values for general social sciences. Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Jacinto. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,448, compared with $12,728 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the general social sciences program here. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $20,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cosumnes River College earned the #24 position for value in general social sciences this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Cosumnes River College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $5,500. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $19,699. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palomar College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, compared with $10,650 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,300 ten years after entry.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general social sciences:
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Social Sciences rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 540 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.