by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a general social sciences degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools on the early-career earnings of their general social sciences graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send general social sciences graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in general social sciences, no school beat American River College this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from American River College make a median of around $52,793 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in general social sciences will find them at College Of San Mateo, which ranked #2. College Of San Mateo is a public school located in the city of San Mateo. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,134.
Students chasing top earnings in general social sciences will find them at Merritt College, which ranked #3. Merritt College is a public school located in the city of Oakland. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Merritt College typically earn about $47,026 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in general social sciences will find them at Laney College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Oakland, Laney College is a public institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Laney College typically earn about $46,766 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Mt San Antonio College earned it the #5 place for general social sciences. Mt San Antonio College is a public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,149.
Yuba College earned the #6 position for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a public institution. General Social Sciences graduates of Yuba College earn a median of about $43,112 a year early in their careers.
Crafton Hills College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Crafton Hills College is a public school located in the suburb of Yucaipa. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Crafton Hills College make a median of around $41,230 per year.
Arizona Western College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Arizona Western College make a median of around $39,790 per year.
Palomar College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Palomar College is a public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Palomar College make a median of around $38,312 per year.
Roxbury Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Set in the city of Roxbury Crossing, Roxbury Community College is a public institution. General Social Sciences graduates of Roxbury Community College earn a median of about $37,941 a year early in their careers.
Central Oregon Community College landed the #11 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Central Oregon Community College is a public school located in the city of Bend. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,901.
South Texas College landed the #12 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,454.
Tulsa Community College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,462.
Citrus College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Citrus College make a median of around $34,810 per year.
Mt San Jacinto Community College District earned the #15 position for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,787.
Merced College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a public institution. General Social Sciences graduates of Merced College earn a median of about $34,085 a year early in their careers.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #17 for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Santa Rosa Junior College make a median of around $43,634 per year.
Montgomery County Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,998.
Dine College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Located in the rural area of Tsaile, Dine College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,896.
Northern Virginia Community College earned the #20 position for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. General Social Sciences graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of about $48,149 a year early in their careers.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,791.
Frederick Community College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Frederick Community College is a public school located in the city of Frederick. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Frederick Community College make a median of around $32,749 per year.
Tidewater Community College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Tidewater Community College make a median of around $36,694 per year.
Butte College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a public institution. General Social Sciences graduates of Butte College earn a median of about $39,587 a year early in their careers.
Antelope Valley College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Antelope Valley College is a public school located in the suburb of Lancaster. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,711.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning general social sciences graduates:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid General Social Sciences rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their general social sciences graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 36 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.