by our College Data Analytics TeamGeneral Social Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 491 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general social sciences schools.
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These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in general social sciences, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Leading the list is College Of San Mateo, our #1 school for general social sciences. This large public university is located in the city of San Mateo. College Of San Mateo awarded about 153 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general social sciences from College Of San Mateo
A rank of #2 makes De Anza College one of the top schools for general social sciences. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. There were roughly 101 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at De Anza College in the most recent data year. De Anza College graduates carry a median of $7,271 in student loans. Get the full general social sciences details for De Anza College
American River College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Sacramento. American River College awarded about 400 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. Typical student debt for the program is $14,105. See the full general social sciences program report for American River College
Santa Rosa Junior College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 366 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $27,691 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Santa Rosa Junior College
Students looking for a strong general social sciences program will find one at Merritt College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Oakland, Merritt College is a large public institution. About 68 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Merritt College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500. Read more about the general social sciences program at Merritt College
Yuba College landed the #6 spot for general social sciences this year. Yuba College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville. Yuba College awarded about 180 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from Yuba College earn around $89,816 in the first couple years of their career. Yuba College graduates carry a median of $8,729 in student loans. Read more about the general social sciences program at Yuba College
College Of The Canyons earned the #7 position for general social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. There were roughly 527 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Canyons in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. College Of The Canyons graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Get the full general social sciences details for College Of The Canyons
Foothill College earned the #8 position for general social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. About 44 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Foothill College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $94,152 in their early career. Foothill College graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Foothill College
East Los Angeles College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public institution. About 952 general social sciences degrees were awarded at East Los Angeles College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $22,947 in their early career. East Los Angeles College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in general social sciences from East Los Angeles College
Northern Virginia Community College earned the #10 position for general social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Annandale. Northern Virginia Community College awarded about 268 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $23,637 early in their careers. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Get the full general social sciences details for Northern Virginia Community College
Mt San Antonio College earned the #11 position for general social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 354 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384. See the full general social sciences program report for Mt San Antonio College
Frederick Community College landed the #12 spot for general social sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Frederick. There were roughly 118 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Frederick Community College in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of Frederick Community College earn a median of $32,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,848 to complete this degree. See the full general social sciences program report for Frederick Community College
Sierra College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Rocklin. There were roughly 534 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Sierra College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Sierra College generally make around $30,103. Students borrow a median of $7,834 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Sierra College
San Diego Miramar College earned the #14 position for general social sciences this year. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. San Diego Miramar College awarded about 111 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. San Diego Miramar College graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. More information about a degree in general social sciences from San Diego Miramar College
Cuesta College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best general social sciences schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. About 21 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Cuesta College
Roxbury Community College came in at #16 for general social sciences this year. Located in the city of Roxbury Crossing, Roxbury Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 11 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Roxbury Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Roxbury Community College generally make around $37,941. Typical student debt for the program is $11,665. Read more about the general social sciences program at Roxbury Community College
Butte College came in at #17 for general social sciences this year. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. There were roughly 283 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Butte College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $26,482 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,036 to complete this degree. Read more about the general social sciences program at Butte College
Mt San Jacinto Community College District landed the #18 spot for general social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a very large public institution. Mt San Jacinto Community College District awarded about 85 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of Mt San Jacinto Community College District earn a median of $20,084 early in their careers. Mt San Jacinto Community College District graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Read more about the general social sciences program at Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Massachusetts Bay Community College placed #19 among the best general social sciences schools. Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Wellesley Hills. There were roughly 26 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Bay Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Massachusetts Bay Community College generally make around $44,553. Massachusetts Bay Community College graduates carry a median of $11,008 in student loans. See the full general social sciences program report for Massachusetts Bay Community College
Merced College earned the #20 position for general social sciences this year. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. Merced College awarded about 188 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $34,168 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,843 to complete this degree. Read more about the general social sciences program at Merced College
Laney College placed #21 among the best general social sciences schools. Set in the city of Oakland, Laney College is a large public institution. There were roughly 166 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Laney College in the most recent data year. Get the full general social sciences details for Laney College
Ohlone Community College landed the #22 spot for general social sciences this year. Set in the city of Fremont, Ohlone Community College is a large public institution. Ohlone Community College awarded about 347 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Ohlone Community College generally make around $22,545. Ohlone Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. See the full general social sciences program report for Ohlone Community College
Shasta College came in at #23 for general social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. There were roughly 264 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Shasta College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $50,330 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Shasta College
Crafton Hills College earned the #24 position for general social sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Yucaipa. There were roughly 59 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Crafton Hills College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from Crafton Hills College earn around $97,976 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Crafton Hills College
Capital Community College earned the #25 position for general social sciences this year. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. Capital Community College awarded about 12 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $43,086 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,059. Get the full general social sciences details for Capital Community College
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general social sciences ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare General Social Sciences rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 491 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.