Social Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 1707 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best social sciences schools.
Our analysis ranked Georgetown University the best school in the country for a degree in social sciences. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 721 social sciences degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Georgetown University earn around $80,443 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,003.
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Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #2. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 99 social sciences degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,999 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,409.
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Duke University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 178 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Duke University earn around $87,270 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,674 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #4. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $76,795 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,990 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 1,429 social sciences degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $94,699. Typical student debt for the program is $12,395.
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San Jose State University placed #6 among the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 135 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year.
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University Of Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 132 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $83,864 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,394 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University came in at #8 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 425 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $80,664 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,715.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #9 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 54 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for social sciences this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $113,129 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 88 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $84,677 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $12,295 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #12 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 274 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $59,514 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,858 to complete this degree.
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Brown University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 273 social sciences degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $54,042. Typical student debt for the program is $13,409.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 150 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $60,361 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $17,734 in student loans.
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Yale University earned the #15 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 154 social sciences degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $77,014 in their early career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $13,967 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 149 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $37,698 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,012 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 63 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $44,330 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,032 in student loans.
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Cornell University came in at #18 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 109 social sciences degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $80,539. Typical student debt for the program is $14,395.
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Washington University In St Louis came in at #19 for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 112 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $46,293 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,572.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #20 spot for social sciences this year. 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. About 350 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $58,987. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $14,319 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #21 spot for social sciences this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 198 social sciences degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $48,706 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,737 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University landed the #22 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Princeton University awarded about 47 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $86,324 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California came in at #23 for social sciences this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 446 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Southern California earn around $48,147 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,963.
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University Of California Santa Barbara placed #24 among the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 80 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $46,993 early in their careers. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,905 in student loans.
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George Washington University placed #25 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 545 social sciences degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $69,367 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,409.
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Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social sciences ranking:
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 · 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).
