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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Other General Social Sciences Degree Levels
Explore the best general social sciences schools at other degree levels:
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.
- 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.