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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Social Sciences Schools in Michigan

14 Colleges in the United States
3,149 Social Sciences Degrees Awarded
$39,091 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 40 schools to find the best for social sciences students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Social Sciences in Michigan

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social sciences education in Michigan.

Top Schools in Social Sciences

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year for social sciences. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 1,220 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $58,845 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $17,734 in student loans. Read more about the social sciences program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

2
Calvin College crest
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, MI

Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Calvin College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 35 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Calvin College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Calvin College generally make around $43,746. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000. Get the full social sciences details for Calvin College

3
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Michigan State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 749 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $46,409 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,871 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Michigan State University

4
Hope College crest
Hope College
Holland, MI

Hope College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Holland. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Hope College in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Hope College earn a median of $31,584 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,495 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social sciences from Hope College

5

Grand Valley State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. Grand Valley State University awarded about 184 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $36,675 in their early career. Grand Valley State University graduates carry a median of $25,663 in student loans. See the full social sciences program report for Grand Valley State University

6

Wayne State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 210 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Wayne State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $33,960 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,873. Get the full social sciences details for Wayne State University

7
Oakland University crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University came in at #7 for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 83 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Oakland University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $27,430 in their early career. Oakland University graduates carry a median of $22,057 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Oakland University

8
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University earned the #8 position for social sciences this year. This large public university is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 91 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $37,090 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,326. See the full social sciences program report for Central Michigan University

9
Kalamazoo College crest
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo College came in at #9 for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo College is a small private not-for-profit university. Kalamazoo College graduates 76% of students within six years. About 35 social sciences degrees were awarded at Kalamazoo College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $39,902 in their early career. Kalamazoo College graduates carry a median of $26,716 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Kalamazoo College

10

University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Dearborn awarded about 121 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $41,088. Students borrow a median of $28,866 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of Michigan Dearborn

11

Western Michigan University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 88 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $32,422 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,284. Get the full social sciences details for Western Michigan University

12
Albion College crest
Albion College
Albion, MI

Albion College earned the #12 position for social sciences this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Albion. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 social sciences degrees were awarded at Albion College in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Albion College earn a median of $45,006 early in their careers. Albion College graduates carry a median of $26,762 in student loans. Read more about the social sciences program at Albion College

13

Eastern Michigan University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 133 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Eastern Michigan University earn around $30,899 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,241 to complete this degree. Read more about the social sciences program at Eastern Michigan University

14
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI

Saginaw Valley State University landed the #14 spot for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 20 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Saginaw Valley State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Saginaw Valley State University earn around $35,059 in the first couple years of their career. Saginaw Valley State University graduates carry a median of $29,681 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Saginaw Valley State University

15

Northern Michigan University placed #15 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. Northern Michigan University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 69 social sciences degrees were awarded at Northern Michigan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $32,795. Typical student debt for the program is $18,876. See the full social sciences program report for Northern Michigan University

16

University Of Michigan Flint ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Flint. About 40% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Flint in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Michigan Flint earn a median of $41,460 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,016. See the full social sciences program report for University Of Michigan Flint

17
Lake Michigan College crest
Lake Michigan College
Benton Harbor, MI

Lake Michigan College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Lake Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Benton Harbor. About 10 social sciences degrees were awarded at Lake Michigan College in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Lake Michigan College earn a median of $50,185 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,473. Get the full social sciences details for Lake Michigan College

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Notes and References

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 · 40 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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