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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools on the early-career earnings of their general social sciences graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose general social sciences graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is American River College, our #1 for general social sciences graduate salaries in California. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,793.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #2 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.
A rank of #3 makes College Of San Mateo one of the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a public institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from College Of San Mateo typically earn about $47,134 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Merritt College earned it the #4 place for general social sciences. Set in the city of Oakland, Merritt College is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Merritt College make a median of around $47,026 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Laney College earned it the #5 place for general social sciences. 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.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,149.
Yuba College came in at #7 for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,112.
Crafton Hills College ranked #8 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.
California State University San Marcos came in at #9 for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Set 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 earned the #10 position for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a public institution. General Social Sciences graduates of Palomar College earn a median of about $38,312 a year early in their careers.
California State University Sacramento ranked #11 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. Early-career general social sciences graduates from California State University Sacramento make a median of around $57,162 per year.
California State University Stanislaus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general social sciences schools. Located 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 landed the #13 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Ashford University typically earn about $42,146 annually.
Citrus College earned the #14 position for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,810.
University Of Southern California placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $59,488 annually.
Mt San Jacinto Community College District landed the #16 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Located in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from Mt San Jacinto Community College District typically earn about $56,787 annually.
Merced College landed the #17 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Located 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 landed the #18 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. General Social Sciences graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of about $43,634 a year early in their careers.
California State University Chico landed the #19 spot for general social sciences salaries this year. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. Early-career general social sciences graduates from California State University Chico make a median of around $50,545 per year.
California State University Monterey Bay placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. After graduating, general social sciences degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay typically earn about $52,537 annually.
Butte College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Butte College is a public school located in the rural area of Oroville. General Social Sciences graduates of Butte College earn a median of about $39,587 a year early in their careers.
Antelope Valley College came in at #22 for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Antelope Valley College is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from Antelope Valley College make a median of around $42,711 per year.
Imperial Valley College came in at #23 for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Imperial Valley College is a public school located in the rural area of Imperial. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,267.
Sierra College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for general social sciences. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a public institution. Students who complete the general social sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,103.
East Los Angeles College earned the #25 position for general social sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a public institution. Early-career general social sciences graduates from East Los Angeles College make a median of around $39,615 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid general social sciences ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries general social sciences graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 32 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.