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2026 Best General Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools

12 Colleges in the United States
1,898 General Social Sciences Degrees Awarded
$54,082 Avg Early-Career Salary

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 540 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 the United States

These are the top schools for a master’s degree in general social sciences, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in General Social Sciences

1
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general social sciences. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 230 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree. Get the full general social sciences details for Georgetown University

2
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Students looking for a strong general social sciences program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 12 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $61,389 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Vanderbilt University

3

University Of California Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general social sciences, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 22 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097. See the full general social sciences program report for University Of California Los Angeles

4
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Brown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general social sciences, ranking #4. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 112 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. General Social Sciences graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025. See the full general social sciences program report for Brown University

5
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general social sciences, ranking #5. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 139 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $56,540 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,937 to complete this degree. Read more about the general social sciences program at Harvard University

6

Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #6 position for general social sciences this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 185 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Columbia University In The City Of New York

7

University Of Chicago landed the #7 spot for general social sciences this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 740 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $53,788. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Read more about the general social sciences program at University Of Chicago

8

The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general social sciences schools. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. About 76% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Dallas awarded about 13 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from The University Of Texas At Dallas earn around $58,507 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,531 to complete this degree. Get the full general social sciences details for The University Of Texas At Dallas

9
Emory University crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA

Emory University placed #9 among the best general social sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Emory University awarded about 213 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $67,840 in their early career. Emory University graduates carry a median of $19,431 in student loans. Read more about the general social sciences program at Emory University

10

Cuny Graduate School And University Center earned the #10 position for general social sciences this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. About 47 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. General Social Sciences graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree. Get the full general social sciences details for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

11

Montclair State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Montclair. Montclair State University graduates 65% of students within six years. About 19 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Montclair State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from Montclair State University earn around $44,369 in the first couple years of their career. Montclair State University graduates carry a median of $25,286 in student loans. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Montclair State University

12

Ohio University Main Campus earned the #12 position for general social sciences this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 13 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $52,274 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Ohio University Main Campus

13

Austin Peay State University landed the #13 spot for general social sciences this year. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Austin Peay State University awarded about 13 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. General Social Sciences graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $44,360 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,530. Get the full general social sciences details for Austin Peay State University

14

Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #14 among the best general social sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. About 86% of students finish within six years. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 21 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $37,472. Typical student debt for the program is $47,000. See the full general social sciences program report for Tulane University Of Louisiana

15
Bard College crest
Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY

Bard College landed the #15 spot for general social sciences this year. Located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 32 general social sciences degrees were awarded at Bard College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Bard College generally make around $23,302. Bard College graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Read more about the general social sciences program at Bard College

16

Troy University earned the #16 position for general social sciences this year. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Troy University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Troy University generally make around $36,547. Students borrow a median of $28,125 to complete this degree. Read more about the general social sciences program at Troy University

17
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE

Bellevue University placed #17 among the best general social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Bellevue University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $45,614. Typical student debt for the program is $34,734. See the full general social sciences program report for Bellevue University

18

Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University landed the #18 spot for general social sciences this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 general social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general social sciences program make about $45,300 in their early career. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University graduates carry a median of $26,824 in student loans. More information about a degree in general social sciences from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University

19

Grambling State University landed the #19 spot for general social sciences this year. Set in the town of Grambling, Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 36% of students finish within six years. Grambling State University awarded about 10 general social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general social sciences degree from Grambling State University earn around $34,975 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $40,941. Get the full general social sciences details for Grambling State University

Other General Social Sciences Degree Levels

Explore the best general social sciences schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in General Social Sciences
Associate's Degrees in General Social Sciences
Bachelor's Degrees in General Social Sciences
View All General Social Sciences Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 540 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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