Social Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 285 schools to find the best for social sciences students.
No school ranked higher than Georgetown University this year for social sciences. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 1,468 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Georgetown University earn around $72,077 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,003.
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Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 829 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 1,747 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $81,818 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,395.
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Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 507 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $82,356 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $13,394 in student loans.
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Princeton University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #5. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. Princeton University awarded about 353 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Princeton University earn around $86,946 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,250.
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Colgate University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. About 91% of students finish within six years. Colgate University awarded about 263 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $68,099 in their early career. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,988 in student loans.
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Cornell University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 443 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,537. Students borrow a median of $14,395 to complete this degree.
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Lafayette College earned the #8 position for social sciences this year. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. About 88% of students finish within six years. Lafayette College awarded about 180 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $61,383 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,044.
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University Of Maryland College Park ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. About 1,215 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $55,374 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,179.
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Barnard College earned the #10 position for social sciences this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 236 social sciences degrees were awarded at Barnard College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $74,561 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,325 to complete this degree.
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George Washington University placed #11 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,261 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from George Washington University earn around $61,968 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,409 to complete this degree.
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Swarthmore College earned the #12 position for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Swarthmore College awarded about 103 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Swarthmore College earn a median of $68,424 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Carnegie Mellon University earned the #13 position for social sciences this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 75 social sciences degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $86,284 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,020.
See the full social sciences program report for Carnegie Mellon University
New York University landed the #14 spot for social sciences this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,464 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from New York University earn around $62,830 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,614 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 1,464 social sciences degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $76,318. Typical student debt for the program is $28,400.
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American University earned the #16 position for social sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 76% of students finish within six years. American University awarded about 1,198 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $59,181 in their early career. American University graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans.
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Haverford College earned the #17 position for social sciences this year. Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Haverford. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 75 social sciences degrees were awarded at Haverford College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Haverford College
Lehigh University came in at #18 for social sciences this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 88 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $51,585. Typical student debt for the program is $21,176.
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Hamilton College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Hamilton College awarded about 141 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Hamilton College generally make around $69,422. Typical student debt for the program is $16,293.
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Yeshiva University came in at #20 for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 35 social sciences degrees were awarded at Yeshiva University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Yeshiva University earn around $52,838 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,625.
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Bucknell University landed the #21 spot for social sciences this year. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bucknell University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 184 social sciences degrees were awarded at Bucknell University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $65,314 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,934 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rochester ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 185 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $55,126 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,566.
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Villanova University landed the #23 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 209 social sciences degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $58,603 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,434.
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Vassar College earned the #24 position for social sciences this year. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 126 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Vassar College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Vassar College generally make around $64,187. Typical student debt for the program is $18,623.
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Dickinson College placed #25 among the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Carlisle. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 95 social sciences degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Dickinson College generally make around $47,369. Dickinson College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools
These schools also placed among the best for social sciences this year:
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 · 285 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).
