2026 Best Social Studies Education Schools in the Southeast Region
Social Studies Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 64 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social studies education students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Social Studies Education in the Southeast 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 studies education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Social Studies Education
University Of Georgia tops our 2026 ranking of the best social studies education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 41 social studies education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social studies education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $61,081. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social studies education from University Of Georgia
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best social studies education schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 social studies education degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their social studies education degree from University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn around $39,985 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
Read more about the social studies education program at University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Students looking for a strong social studies education program will find one at East Carolina University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. East Carolina University awarded about 19 social studies education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social studies education degree from East Carolina University earn around $48,318 in the first couple years of their career. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the social studies education program at East Carolina University
University Of Kentucky is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social studies education, ranking #4. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kentucky awarded about 15 social studies education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social studies education degree from University Of Kentucky earn around $42,057 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,002 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social studies education program at University Of Kentucky
Georgia State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best social studies education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 17 social studies education students who graduated with this degree at Georgia State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social studies education program make about $57,563 in their early career. Georgia State University graduates carry a median of $28,687 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social studies education from Georgia State University
Liberty University earned the #6 position for social studies education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 15 social studies education degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social studies education degree from Liberty University earn around $50,560 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,414.
Read more about the social studies education program at Liberty University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 64 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
