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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Social Sciences Schools in the New England Region

56 Colleges in the United States
13,506 Social Sciences Degrees Awarded
$51,209 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 120 schools to find the best for social sciences students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Social Sciences in the New England Region

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
Dartmouth College crest
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College tops our 2026 ranking of the best social sciences schools. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 348 social sciences degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $81,161 early in their careers. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $17,035 in student loans. See the full social sciences program report for Dartmouth College

2
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

A rank of #2 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for social sciences. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Harvard University awarded about 1,198 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $85,109 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,715 to complete this degree. See the full social sciences program report for Harvard University

3
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Brown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #3. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 650 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Brown University earn a median of $67,026 early in their careers. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,409 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Brown University

4
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #4. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 579 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Yale University earn around $75,039 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $13,967 in student loans. Get the full social sciences details for Yale University

5

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 70 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $113,129 in their early career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Read more about the social sciences program at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

6
Wesleyan University crest
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT

Wesleyan University placed #6 among the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 205 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Get the full social sciences details for Wesleyan University

7
Bates College crest
Bates College
Lewiston, ME

Bates College earned the #7 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Bates College awarded about 124 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Bates College earn a median of $59,852 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,442 to complete this degree. Read more about the social sciences program at Bates College

8
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University placed #8 among the best social sciences schools. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 591 social sciences degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $70,054. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,129 in student loans. Get the full social sciences details for Tufts University

9
Bowdoin College crest
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME

Bowdoin College earned the #9 position for social sciences this year. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Bowdoin College awarded about 151 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Bowdoin College earn around $68,479 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,555 to complete this degree. Get the full social sciences details for Bowdoin College

10
Middlebury College crest
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT

Middlebury College earned the #10 position for social sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. About 225 social sciences degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $78,852 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Read more about the social sciences program at Middlebury College

11
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College earned the #11 position for social sciences this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston College awarded about 584 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $68,122 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,208. See the full social sciences program report for Boston College

12
Wellesley College crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College landed the #12 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 147 social sciences degrees were awarded at Wellesley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Wellesley College earn around $71,025 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,727. Read more about the social sciences program at Wellesley College

13
Bentley University crest
Bentley University
Waltham, MA

Bentley University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waltham. Bentley University graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Bentley University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $76,110 in their early career. Bentley University graduates carry a median of $25,476 in student loans. Read more about the social sciences program at Bentley University

14
Williams College crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA

Williams College earned the #14 position for social sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Williamstown. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 139 social sciences degrees were awarded at Williams College in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Williams College earn around $79,134 in the first couple years of their career. Williams College graduates carry a median of $12,034 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Williams College

15

Northeastern University Global Network landed the #15 spot for social sciences this year. Northeastern University Global Network is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. There were roughly 77 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University Global Network in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Northeastern University Global Network generally make around $78,054. Students borrow a median of $22,579 to complete this degree. See the full social sciences program report for Northeastern University Global Network

16
Amherst College crest
Amherst College
Amherst, MA

Amherst College placed #16 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 100 social sciences degrees were awarded at Amherst College in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Amherst College earn around $86,897 in the first couple years of their career. Amherst College graduates carry a median of $16,662 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Amherst College

17

College Of The Holy Cross landed the #17 spot for social sciences this year. College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 263 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Holy Cross in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of College Of The Holy Cross earn a median of $58,751 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,886 to complete this degree. Read more about the social sciences program at College Of The Holy Cross

18
Trinity College crest
Trinity College
Hartford, CT

Trinity College earned the #18 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 196 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Trinity College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Trinity College earn around $59,921 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,934. Read more about the social sciences program at Trinity College

19

University Of Connecticut landed the #19 spot for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 795 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $47,605 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,342 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of Connecticut

20
Colby College crest
Colby College
Waterville, ME

Colby College placed #20 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Colby College graduates 89% of students within six years. About 156 social sciences degrees were awarded at Colby College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $71,628 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,377. Get the full social sciences details for Colby College

21

Northeastern University placed #21 among the best social sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 519 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $64,178. Students borrow a median of $24,053 to complete this degree. Get the full social sciences details for Northeastern University

22
Providence College crest
Providence College
Providence, RI

Providence College placed #22 among the best social sciences schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 117 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Providence College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Providence College generally make around $56,142. Typical student debt for the program is $26,532. Get the full social sciences details for Providence College

23

University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #23 among the best social sciences schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 772 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $47,070. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,424 in student loans. See the full social sciences program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst

24
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University came in at #24 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Boston University awarded about 893 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $50,765 in their early career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,156 in student loans. Get the full social sciences details for Boston University

25
Smith College crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA

Smith College landed the #25 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Smith College graduates 89% of students within six years. About 97 social sciences degrees were awarded at Smith College in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Smith College earn a median of $55,659 early in their careers. Smith College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in social sciences from Smith College

Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social sciences ranking:

26
Connecticut College crest
Connecticut College
New London, CT
27
Fairfield University crest
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
28
29
Bryant University crest
Bryant University
Smithfield, RI
30
Stonehill College crest
Stonehill College
Easton, MA
31
University Of New Haven crest
University Of New Haven
West Haven, CT
32
Saint Anselm College crest
Saint Anselm College
Manchester, NH
33
34
University Of Vermont crest
University Of Vermont
Burlington, VT
35
36
37
Mount Holyoke College crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
38
Lasell College crest
Lasell College
Newton, MA
39
40
41
42
43
Clark University crest
Clark University
Worcester, MA
44
45
Assumption College crest
Assumption College
Worcester, MA
46
Roxbury Community College crest
Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Crossing, MA
47
48
49
50

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 120 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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