General Social Sciences 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 166 schools to find the best for general social sciences students.
The school you choose for general social sciences can shape your career. To help, we created our Best General Social Sciences Schools rankings. For our Best Overall General Social Sciences School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Social Sciences Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for General Social Sciences in the United States
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 general social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Vanderbilt University tops our 2027 ranking of the best general 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 293 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $61,389. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for general social sciences. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 53 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $63,833 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
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Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general social sciences, ranking #3. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 287 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from Georgetown University earn around $79,632 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general social sciences program will find one at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 12 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
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Students looking for a strong general social sciences program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 28 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University came in at #6 for general social sciences this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #7 for general social sciences this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 31 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $99,682 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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Brown University landed the #8 spot for general social sciences this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 217 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $62,820 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut placed #9 among the best general social sciences schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of Connecticut awarded about 22 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $58,784. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637.
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Harvard University placed #10 among the best general social sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 383 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $56,540. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $19,937 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general social sciences schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 210 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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De Anza College earned the #12 position for general social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cupertino. There were roughly 107 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at De Anza College in the most recent data year. De Anza College graduates carry a median of $7,271 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #13 among the best general social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 60 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $57,538 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $20,559 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago earned the #14 position for general social sciences this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 818 general social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $53,788. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #15 for general social sciences this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 20 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $39,061 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,194.
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University Of Kentucky placed #16 among the best general social sciences schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kentucky in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine placed #17 among the best general social sciences schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 41 general social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $34,871 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $16,338 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #18 for general social sciences this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $58,507 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,531 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University came in at #19 for general social sciences this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. Florida State University awarded about 290 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $33,235. Typical student debt for the program is $23,375.
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New York University earned the #20 position for general social sciences this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 65 general social sciences degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $49,016 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Emory University landed the #21 spot for general 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%. Emory University awarded about 270 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from Emory University earn around $67,840 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,431.
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University Of Oregon earned the #22 position for general social sciences this year. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. University Of Oregon graduates 72% of students within six years. University Of Oregon awarded about 262 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $38,147 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,917.
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University Of Southern California came in at #23 for general social sciences this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 116 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $33,789 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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Providence College came in at #24 for general social sciences this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Providence College awarded about 14 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Providence College generally make around $53,208. Students borrow a median of $26,833 to complete this degree.
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College Of San Mateo ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best general social sciences schools. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. There were roughly 183 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at College Of San Mateo in the most recent data year. College Of San Mateo graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Social Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general social sciences ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 166 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).
