2026 Best General Social Sciences Schools in California
General Social Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 103 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general social sciences students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Social Sciences in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general social sciences education in California.
Top Schools in General Social Sciences
Leading the list is University Of California Los Angeles, our #1 school for general social sciences. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 22 general social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $63,833 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
Read more about the general social sciences program at University Of California Los Angeles
California State University Sacramento is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 24 general social sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $39,061 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,194.
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University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 40 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $33,789. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of California Irvine one of the top schools for general social sciences. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. About 23 general social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $34,871 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,338.
Read more about the general social sciences program at University Of California Irvine
California State University Fullerton is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fullerton awarded about 39 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $54,471 early in their careers. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
Read more about the general social sciences program at California State University Fullerton
College Of San Mateo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best general social sciences schools. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. College Of San Mateo awarded about 153 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. College Of San Mateo graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans.
See the full general social sciences program report for College Of San Mateo
California State University Stanislaus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. California State University Stanislaus awarded about 49 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from California State University Stanislaus earn around $39,149 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Stanislaus graduates carry a median of $15,446 in student loans.
See the full general social sciences program report for California State University Stanislaus
California State University Monterey Bay earned the #8 position for general social sciences this year. California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Seaside. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 83 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay generally make around $34,678. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
See the full general social sciences program report for California State University Monterey Bay
De Anza College earned the #9 position for general social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cupertino. About 101 general social sciences degrees were awarded at De Anza College in the most recent year. De Anza College graduates carry a median of $7,271 in student loans.
See the full general social sciences program report for De Anza College
American River College earned the #10 position for general social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Sacramento. American River College awarded about 400 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $76,077 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,105.
Read more about the general social sciences program at American River College
California State University Chico landed the #11 spot for general social sciences this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 61 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $36,382 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
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Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #12 position for general social sciences this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 366 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $27,691 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
Read more about the general social sciences program at Santa Rosa Junior College
California State University San Bernardino came in at #13 for general social sciences this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 52 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $18,893 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree.
See the full general social sciences program report for California State University San Bernardino
California State University San Marcos earned the #14 position for general social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 62 general social sciences degrees were awarded at California State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $37,446. Students borrow a median of $18,719 to complete this degree.
See the full general social sciences program report for California State University San Marcos
Merritt College placed #15 among the best general social sciences schools. Located in the city of Oakland, Merritt College is a large public university. About 68 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Merritt College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500.
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Yuba College placed #16 among the best general social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 180 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Yuba College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $89,816 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,729.
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San Diego State University earned the #17 position for general social sciences this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 42 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $23,704 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $20,915 in student loans.
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College Of The Canyons earned the #18 position for general social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. About 529 general social sciences degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. General Social Sciences graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. College Of The Canyons graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans.
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Foothill College landed the #19 spot for general social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. About 44 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Foothill College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $94,152 in their early career. Foothill College graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans.
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California State University Fresno came in at #20 for general social sciences this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. About 14 general social sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598.
See the full general social sciences program report for California State University Fresno
East Los Angeles College landed the #21 spot for general social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public institution. About 952 general social sciences degrees were awarded at East Los Angeles College in the most recent year. General Social Sciences graduates of East Los Angeles College earn a median of $22,947 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
See the full general social sciences program report for East Los Angeles College
Mt San Antonio College landed the #22 spot for general social sciences this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. There were roughly 354 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $44,391 in their early career. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general social sciences from Mt San Antonio College
Sierra College earned the #23 position for general social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 534 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Sierra College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $30,103 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,834 to complete this degree.
See the full general social sciences program report for Sierra College
San Diego Miramar College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best general social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. There were roughly 111 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at San Diego Miramar College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Typical student debt for the program is $8,098.
See the full general social sciences program report for San Diego Miramar College
Cuesta College landed the #25 spot for general social sciences this year. Set in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public institution. Cuesta College awarded about 21 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $64,492 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,958 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 47 General Social Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general social sciences ranking:
More General Social Sciences Rankings
View All General Social Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 103 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.
