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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Social Sciences Schools in Wisconsin

12 Colleges in the United States
2,553 Social Sciences Degrees Awarded
$40,486 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social sciences students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Social Sciences in Wisconsin

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Social Sciences

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in social sciences. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 1,384 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $57,842 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,295 in student loans. Get the full social sciences details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

2
Marquette University crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

A rank of #2 makes Marquette University one of the top schools for social sciences. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. About 83% of students finish within six years. Marquette University awarded about 146 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $41,209 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,076 to complete this degree. Read more about the social sciences program at Marquette University

3
Lawrence University crest
Lawrence University
Appleton, WI

Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Lawrence University, which ranked #3. Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Appleton. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 social sciences degrees were awarded at Lawrence University in the most recent year. Lawrence University graduates carry a median of $15,699 in student loans. See the full social sciences program report for Lawrence University

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin River Falls one of the top schools for social sciences. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 58 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin River Falls in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $42,605. Typical student debt for the program is $24,750. Get the full social sciences details for University Of Wisconsin River Falls

5

University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 80 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $52,918. Students borrow a median of $23,905 to complete this degree. Read more about the social sciences program at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh

6

University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #6 for social sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of La Crosse. About 71% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse awarded about 104 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $42,049 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,852 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse

7

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 121 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $37,057 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,187. Get the full social sciences details for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

8

Saint Norbert College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of De Pere. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 33 social sciences degrees were awarded at Saint Norbert College in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Saint Norbert College earn around $43,720 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,692. See the full social sciences program report for Saint Norbert College

9
Ripon College crest
Ripon College
Ripon, WI

Ripon College landed the #9 spot for social sciences this year. Ripon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ripon. About 63% of students finish within six years. Ripon College awarded about 13 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Ripon College earn around $35,385 in the first couple years of their career. Ripon College graduates carry a median of $26,973 in student loans. See the full social sciences program report for Ripon College

10

University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #10 position for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Menomonie. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. University Of Wisconsin Stout awarded about 35 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $28,930. Typical student debt for the program is $24,882. More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of Wisconsin Stout

11

University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #11 for social sciences this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point awarded about 64 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $39,110. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates carry a median of $23,130 in student loans. Get the full social sciences details for University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point

12

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #12 for social sciences this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 167 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn around $41,932 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,974. Get the full social sciences details for University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

13
Carthage College crest
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI

Carthage College earned the #13 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Carthage College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Carthage College generally make around $29,201. Carthage College graduates carry a median of $19,373 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Carthage College

14

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #14 for social sciences this year. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $35,863 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,450 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay

15

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. About 189 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $38,970 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,254. Read more about the social sciences program at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

16

University Of Wisconsin Parkside came in at #16 for social sciences this year. Set in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. About 42 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Parkside in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Parkside generally make around $35,710. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of Wisconsin Parkside

17
Lakeland College crest
Lakeland College
Plymouth, WI

Lakeland College placed #17 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the rural area of Plymouth, Lakeland College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 social sciences degrees were awarded at Lakeland College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $45,276 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,053. See the full social sciences program report for Lakeland College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 27 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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