by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a general social sciences degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 42 schools to find where general social sciences graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose general social sciences graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked American River College the top school for general social sciences graduate earnings in the Far Western Region. American River College is a public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,793.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general social sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $82,655 per year.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a public school located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System typically earn about $65,739 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at College Of San Mateo earned it the #4 place for general social sciences. College Of San Mateo is a public school located in the city of San Mateo. Early-career general social sciences graduates from College Of San Mateo make a median of around $47,134 per year.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Nevada Las Vegas one of the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public school located in the city of Las Vegas. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas typically earn about $58,005 annually.
Merritt College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Located in the city of Oakland, Merritt College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,026.
Laney College came in at #7 for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Oakland, Laney College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,766.
Mt San Antonio College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a public institution. General Social Sciences graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of about $45,149 a year early in their careers.
Yuba College earned the #9 position for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Yuba College make a median of around $43,112 per year.
Washington State University landed the #10 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Washington State University is a public school located in the town of Pullman. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Washington State University typically earn about $59,442 annually.
Central Washington University came in at #11 for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Central Washington University typically earn about $60,508 annually.
Crafton Hills College ranked #12 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. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,230.
University Of Oregon earned the #13 position for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Oregon typically earn about $63,907 annually.
California State University San Marcos earned the #14 position for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a public institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from California State University San Marcos typically earn about $63,814 annually.
Palomar College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,312.
California State University Sacramento ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,162.
Central Oregon Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Located in the city of Bend, Central Oregon Community College is a public institution. General Social Sciences graduates of Central Oregon Community College earn a median of about $36,901 a year early in their careers.
California State University Stanislaus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,958.
Ashford University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Ashford University is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. General Social Sciences graduates of Ashford University earn a median of about $42,146 a year early in their careers.
Citrus College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Citrus College typically earn about $34,810 annually.
University Of Southern California landed the #21 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,488.
Mt San Jacinto Community College District placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public school located in the suburb of San Jacinto. General Social Sciences graduates of Mt San Jacinto Community College District earn a median of about $56,787 a year early in their careers.
Merced College landed the #23 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Merced College is a public school located in the city of Merced. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Merced College typically earn about $34,085 annually.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #24 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,634.
Western Oregon University came in at #25 for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Western Oregon University is a public school located in the town of Monmouth. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Western Oregon University typically earn about $55,823 annually.
These schools also send general social sciences graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 42 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.