Social Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their social sciences programs.
College Factual analyzed 377 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best social sciences schools.
Vanderbilt University tops our 2026 ranking of the best social sciences schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 683 social sciences degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $73,246 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $11,990 in student loans.
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Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #2. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 482 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,484. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,674 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the top schools for social sciences. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 135 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,323.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for social sciences. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 818 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $53,392 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $14,319 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 593 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $63,079. Students borrow a median of $17,609 to complete this degree.
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Wake Forest University placed #6 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 283 social sciences degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $52,229. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $22,074 in student loans.
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Davidson College came in at #7 for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Davidson College awarded about 136 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $62,682. Davidson College graduates carry a median of $21,344 in student loans.
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College Of William And Mary placed #8 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. College Of William And Mary awarded about 344 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $50,989 in their early career. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $18,814 in student loans.
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James Madison University earned the #9 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 393 social sciences degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $51,051. Students borrow a median of $19,525 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 1,182 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $38,020. Students borrow a median of $16,172 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #11 position for social sciences this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 692 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $46,351 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,737.
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University Of Richmond ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Richmond awarded about 79 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $57,223 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,033 to complete this degree.
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Emory University landed the #13 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 496 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $51,820. Students borrow a median of $20,277 to complete this degree.
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University Of Georgia came in at #14 for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 756 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $39,829 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,858 to complete this degree.
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Belmont University earned the #15 position for social sciences this year. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 26 social sciences degrees were awarded at Belmont University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $49,699 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #16 position for social sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 339 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $40,650 early in their careers. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $21,884 in student loans.
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Florida State University came in at #17 for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,461 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $44,849. Students borrow a median of $20,252 to complete this degree.
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Elon University landed the #18 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. Elon University awarded about 86 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Elon University earn a median of $49,643 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,910 to complete this degree.
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Washington And Lee University placed #19 among the best social sciences schools. Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lexington. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 67 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Washington And Lee University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Washington And Lee University generally make around $71,737. Typical student debt for the program is $23,399.
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George Mason University earned the #20 position for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 666 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from George Mason University earn around $57,936 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $22,282 in student loans.
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High Point University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. High Point University graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #22 for social sciences this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 454 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $37,721. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $24,100 in student loans.
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University Of Miami placed #23 among the best social sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 307 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $38,768 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,601 to complete this degree.
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Mercer University landed the #24 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 47 social sciences degrees were awarded at Mercer University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Mercer University earn around $56,912 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $32,522 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University landed the #25 spot for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 487 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $39,222 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,646.
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Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong social sciences education:
This ranking is produced 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 · 377 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).
