by our College Data Analytics TeamSocial Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 105 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best social sciences schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social sciences education in Pennsylvania.
No school ranked higher than Pennsylvania State University Main Campus this year for social sciences. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 829 social sciences degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Get the full social sciences details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. About 507 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $82,356 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,394 to complete this degree. Get the full social sciences details for University Of Pennsylvania
Lafayette College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. 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. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $61,383. Typical student debt for the program is $17,044. Read more about the social sciences program at Lafayette College
Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Swarthmore College, which ranked #4. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Swarthmore. Swarthmore College graduates 92% of students within six years. About 103 social sciences degrees were awarded at Swarthmore College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $68,424. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Get the full social sciences details for Swarthmore College
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $22,020 to complete this degree. See the full social sciences program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Haverford College came in at #6 for social sciences this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Haverford. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 75 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Haverford College in the most recent data year. Read more about the social sciences program at Haverford College
Lehigh University came in at #7 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. Students borrow a median of $21,176 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social sciences from Lehigh University
Bucknell University came in at #8 for social sciences this year. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 184 social sciences degrees were awarded at Bucknell University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of $65,314 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,934. Get the full social sciences details for Bucknell University
Villanova University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 209 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $58,603. Typical student debt for the program is $26,434. See the full social sciences program report for Villanova University
Dickinson College placed #10 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 95 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Dickinson College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Dickinson College generally make around $47,369. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. More information about a degree in social sciences from Dickinson College
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #11 for social sciences this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 375 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the social sciences program at Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Messiah College placed #12 among the best social sciences schools. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 17 social sciences degrees were awarded at Messiah College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $48,957 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,195. More information about a degree in social sciences from Messiah College
Franklin And Marshall College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Lancaster, Franklin And Marshall College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Franklin And Marshall College in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Franklin And Marshall College earn a median of $47,528 early in their careers. Franklin And Marshall College graduates carry a median of $20,893 in student loans. Read more about the social sciences program at Franklin And Marshall College
Gettysburg College placed #14 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Gettysburg College graduates 82% of students within six years. About 150 social sciences degrees were awarded at Gettysburg College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Gettysburg College generally make around $52,706. Gettysburg College graduates carry a median of $26,227 in student loans. See the full social sciences program report for Gettysburg College
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #15 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Get the full social sciences details for Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Wilkes University earned the #16 position for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. Wilkes University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 18 social sciences degrees were awarded at Wilkes University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Wilkes University earn around $64,004 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. More information about a degree in social sciences from Wilkes University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #17 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 508 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $42,975 early in their careers. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $25,599 in student loans. See the full social sciences program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #18 for social sciences this year. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 216 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent data year. Read more about the social sciences program at Pennsylvania Western University
Saint Josephs University landed the #19 spot for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Saint Josephs University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Saint Josephs University earn a median of $39,877 early in their careers. Saint Josephs University graduates carry a median of $20,192 in student loans. Read more about the social sciences program at Saint Josephs University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #20 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 68 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. See the full social sciences program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg awarded about 21 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full social sciences details for Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College landed the #22 spot for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College in the most recent data year. See the full social sciences program report for Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College
Waynesburg University placed #23 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the town of Waynesburg, Waynesburg University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 66% of students finish within six years. Waynesburg University awarded about 16 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Waynesburg University generally make around $55,588. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full social sciences details for Waynesburg University
Muhlenberg College placed #24 among the best social sciences schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Allentown. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 44 social sciences degrees were awarded at Muhlenberg College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Muhlenberg College generally make around $37,508. Typical student debt for the program is $25,975. More information about a degree in social sciences from Muhlenberg College
Drexel University earned the #25 position for social sciences this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 91 social sciences degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $70,597. Students borrow a median of $28,946 to complete this degree. See the full social sciences program report for Drexel University
These schools also placed among the best for social sciences this year:
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 · 105 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.