by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 342 U.S. colleges awarded 15,214 degrees and certificates in General Social Sciences. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 154 schools in its 2027 Best General Social Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,530 one year after completing, rising to $52,330 after four years.
A major in General Social Sciences involves the study of Social Sciences, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Study Of Human Social Behavior And Social Institutions Using Any Of The Methodologies Common To The Social Sciences And/or History, Or An Undifferentiated Program Of Study In The Social Sciences.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general social sciences draws strong interest, with 15,214 degrees awarded annually. 342 colleges award general social sciences degrees, an average of 44 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,037.
By level, the 15,214 awards include 25 certificates, 9,318 associate degrees, 5,355 bachelor’s degrees, 491 master’s degrees and 25 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of general social sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (9,930 of 15,214). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,504) and Hispanic or Latino (4,990), and international students earned 380.
College Factual ranks 154 schools in its 2027 Best General Social Sciences Schools ranking, including 67 for associate degrees, 83 for bachelor’s degrees and 12 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general social sciences schools within 34 states. In all, 342 colleges offer general social sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Social Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general social sciences credential is the associate degree: 9,318 of the 15,214 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general social sciences call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general social sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 25 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9,318 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5,355 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 491 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 25 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general social sciences, at 65.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 65.5% |
| Master’s degree | 9.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to General Social Sciences, with an average median salary of $92,371; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Science Teacher, Social Science Professor, Weight Control Lecturer and Labor Relations Teacher.
The occupation related to general social sciences with the most projected jobs is Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other, at 1,421,275.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
General Social Sciences graduates earn a median $37,530 one year after completing their program, $52,330 after four years and $50,237 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,530 |
| 4 years | $52,330 |
| 5 years | $50,237 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general social sciences is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
General Social Sciences has 3 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 2,344 degrees a year; the largest are Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods (2,317), Survey Research/Methodology (18) and Social Sciences, Other (9). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods | 2,317 |
| Survey Research/Methodology | 18 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
