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2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

181 Ranked Colleges
31,164 Degrees Awarded
$7,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 205,726 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 36,473 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,224 and $23,992 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 31,164 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 181 colleges that offered a degree in social sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Duke is a fairly large school located in Durham, North Carolina that handed out 407 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Duke has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $-1,314 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Duke University. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Duke

#2

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, Virginia
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 181 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington and Lee University landed the #2 spot on the list. Washington and Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lexington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 117 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Washington and Lee not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Washington and Lee is $2,039 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Washington and Lee University

#3

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 623 students in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt is $6,017 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Vanderbilt University

#4

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wake Forest University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 357 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Wake Forest University has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wake Forest University is $5,981 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Wake Forest University

#5

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 1,154 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

UF also made our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend University of Florida is $4,069 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Florida Social Sciences Report

#6

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#6 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 938 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $6,063 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The low student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read more about Social Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill

#7

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
#8 in overall quality

William & Mary came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. William & Mary is a medium-sized school located in Williamsburg, Virginia that handed out 464 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, William & Mary has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $4,963 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend William & Mary.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full William & Mary Social Sciences Report

#8

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#5 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,033 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

University of Virginia also made our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia - Main Campus is $11,696 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Virginia - Main Campus

#9

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#7 in overall quality

Emory University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Emory University is a fairly large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 369 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Emory also took the #7 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Emory University is $9,629 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Emory

#10

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, Virginia
#12 in overall quality

University of Richmond landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 121 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at URichmond, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $9,131 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Richmond.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Richmond Social Sciences Report

#11

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school awarded 1,579 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Florida State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $6,816 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Florida State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Florida State University

Top 20% in overall quality

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 1,205 students in 2019-2020.

USF Tampa excels when it comes to social sciences quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $5,616 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at USF Tampa

Florida International University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Florida International University is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 826 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $6,683 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend FIU.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Florida International University

#14

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Central Florida landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school awarded 647 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UCF is $7,847 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Central Florida

#15

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UWF is a public institution located in Pensacola, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 134 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend The University of West Florida is $3,912 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Sciences at UWF

#16

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#18 in overall quality

North Carolina State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. NC State is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 258 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NC State, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NC State is $9,887 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Social Sciences at North Carolina State University

#9 in overall quality

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Georgia Tech is located in Atlanta, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 49 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Georgia Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Georgia Tech is $11,454 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Georgia Tech

#18

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, University of Georgia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Georgia is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 668 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UGA also made our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for University of Georgia is $10,241 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UGA

#19

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 186 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of North Florida is $5,942 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UNF Social Sciences Report

#20

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
Top 15% in overall quality

American Public University System came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 134 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

American Military University excels when it comes to social sciences quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend American Public University System is $10,917 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at American Public University System

#21

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. FAU is a large school located in Boca Raton, Florida that handed out 363 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend FAU is $7,331 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Sciences at Florida Atlantic University

#22

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Elizabeth City State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Elizabeth City State University is a public institution located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $1,919 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Elizabeth City State University.

Read full report on Social Sciences at ECSU

#23

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, Virginia
#19 in overall quality

Virginia Military Institute ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. VMI is a public institution located in Lexington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

VMI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Military Institute is $6,604 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at VMI

#24

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#13 in overall quality

Virginia Tech landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Virginia Tech is a large public school situated in Blacksburg, Virginia. It awarded 662 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Virginia Tech, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $14,010 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Virginia Tech.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Virginia Tech

#25

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

With a ranking of #25, Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. FGCU is located in Fort Myers, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 82 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for FGCU is $8,748 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full FGCU Social Sciences Report

Rest of the Best 28 in Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
#27

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina
#28

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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