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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in California

81 Ranked Colleges
27,400 Degrees Awarded
$34,949 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 205,984 social sciences students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $36,262 and had an average of $23,306 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 51,680 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,887 and $17,995 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 27,400 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,566 and $21,995 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California” ranking looked at 81 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in social sciences.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree social sciences students.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in California

1
Claremont McKenna crest
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Claremont McKenna College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California. Claremont McKenna is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 179 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Social Sciences at Claremont McKenna

2
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 81 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Occidental College landed the #2 spot on the list. Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 143 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Social Sciences at Occidental College

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California list. UCSB is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,976 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Social Sciences Report

4
Pomona crest
Pomona College
Claremont, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pomona College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California. Pomona College is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 95 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Pomona Social Sciences Report

5

6

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 2,611 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad 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 California - Los Angeles

7
Scripps crest
Scripps College
Claremont, California

Scripps College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 58 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Scripps College

8
Pitzer crest
Pitzer College
Claremont, California

Pitzer College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 40 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Pitzer College Social Sciences Report

9

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking, coming in at #9. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,269 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Social Sciences at UCR

10

California State University - San Marcos came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. San Marcos, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 722 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at California State University - San Marcos

11
Whittier crest
Whittier College
Whittier, California

Whittier College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. Whittier College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Whittier, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Full Whittier College Social Sciences Report

12

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking, coming in at #12. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 1,720 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 University of California - Irvine

13

University of California - Berkeley landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 1,958 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, 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 96%.

Full UC Berkeley Social Sciences Report

14
SSU crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California

With a ranking of #14, Sonoma State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California list. SSU is a medium-sized school located in Rohnert Park, California that handed out 298 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Sonoma State University Social Sciences Report

15

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 774 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UC Santa Cruz

16

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,428 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Davis Social Sciences Report

17

California State University - Channel Islands ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California list. Camarillo, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 262 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUCI Social Sciences Report

18

With a ranking of #18, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California list. UC Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 227 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Social Sciences at UC Merced

19
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. Loyola Marymount is a fairly large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 322 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Social Sciences at Loyola Marymount University

20

With a ranking of #20, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 651 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Fresno State

21

University of California - San Diego landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. University of California - San Diego is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,221 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 UCSD Social Sciences Report

22

California State University - Stanislaus landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 291 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Stanislaus Social Sciences Report

23

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking, coming in at #23. Chico State is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 433 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Chico State

24
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized school located in Arcata, California that handed out 177 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Humboldt State University Social Sciences Report

25

California State University - Sacramento came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in California ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 760 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Sac State

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