Social Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their social sciences programs.
College Factual analyzed 1707 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best social sciences schools.
No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year for social sciences. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 628 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $73,079 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $11,990 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #2. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 1,529 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $76,685 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,370.
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A rank of #3 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for social sciences. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 788 social sciences degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $65,848 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,003.
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Duke University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 356 social sciences degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Duke University earn around $82,641 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,674 in student loans.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 101 social sciences degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University earned the #6 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 345 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $77,567 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,409 in student loans.
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Harvard University earned the #7 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 898 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $81,823 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,715.
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Dartmouth College came in at #8 for social sciences this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 348 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,161 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,035 to complete this degree.
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Brown University landed the #9 spot for social sciences this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 454 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $66,660. Students borrow a median of $13,409 to complete this degree.
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Tufts University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 367 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Tufts University earn around $69,993 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,129 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 772 social sciences degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #12 for social sciences this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 296 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $76,696 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,395 to complete this degree.
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Yale University came in at #13 for social sciences this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 382 social sciences degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,462. Students borrow a median of $13,967 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University placed #14 among the best social sciences schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 287 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $84,275 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,295 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania earned the #15 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 393 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $81,548 in their early career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $13,394 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #16 among the best social sciences schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 1,528 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $64,118. Typical student debt for the program is $13,032.
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Princeton University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Princeton University awarded about 262 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $87,807. Typical student debt for the program is $11,250.
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Washington University In St Louis landed the #18 spot for social sciences this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 246 social sciences degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $52,710 early in their careers. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $15,572 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #19 position for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 1,713 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $51,971 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,905 to complete this degree.
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Colgate University placed #20 among the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 263 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $68,099 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,988.
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Boston College landed the #21 spot for social sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. Boston College awarded about 471 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $66,718. Students borrow a median of $18,208 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 746 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $53,934 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,319 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University came in at #23 for social sciences this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 312 social sciences degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $73,864 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,395.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #24 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 549 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $63,232. Typical student debt for the program is $17,609.
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Wesleyan University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 205 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong social sciences education:
This list is compiled 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 · 1707 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
