College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Popular Colleges for Social Sciences in Pennsylvania

97 Ranked Colleges
8,215 Degrees Awarded
$34,200 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 205,984 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 Pennsylvania, there were 8,215 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,140 and $25,861 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania” ranking looked at 97 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular social sciences programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Social Sciences Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The social sciences school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania

The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania social sciences students.

1

Out of the 97 schools in the Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 680 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

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 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%.

Full Pitt Social Sciences Report

2
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Out of the 97 schools in the Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #2 spot on the list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 642 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full University of Pennsylvania Social Sciences Report

3
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Out of the 97 schools in the Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Temple University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large public school awarded 394 diplomas to qualified ’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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Temple University

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania. IUP is a medium-sized public school situated in Indiana, Pennsylvania. It awarded 343 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Full IUP Social Sciences Report

5
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Villanova University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania. Villanova is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It awarded 325 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, 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 96%.

Full Villanova University Social Sciences Report

6
Bucknell crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Bucknell University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Bucknell University is located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 282 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Bucknell

7
Lafayette crest
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #7, Lafayette College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. This small school is located in Easton, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 239 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Social Sciences at Lafayette

8
St. Joe's crest
Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Saint Joseph’s University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 203 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Joe’s Social Sciences Report

9
Gettysburg crest
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Gettysburg College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #9. Gettysburg College is a small school located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 184 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 90%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Social Sciences at Gettysburg College

10
Dickinson crest
Dickinson College
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #10, Dickinson College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 158 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.

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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Dickinson

11
Franklin and Marshall crest
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Franklin and Marshall College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Franklin and Marshall is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 156 ’s degrees 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 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%.

Full Franklin and Marshall College Social Sciences Report

12
SRU crest
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 117 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

13
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #13, Carnegie Mellon University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 102 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University

14
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #14, Lehigh University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. This medium-sized school is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 100 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Social Sciences at Lehigh

15
Duquesne crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #15, Duquesne University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Duquesne is a medium-sized school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 98 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Duquesne University

15
Swarthmore crest
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Swarthmore College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 98 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Swarthmore

17
Drexel crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #17, Drexel University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 97 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Drexel

18
Millersville crest
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, Pennsylvania

Millersville University of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Millersville, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 95 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad 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 Millersville University of Pennsylvania Social Sciences Report

19
Haverford crest
Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania

Haverford College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Haverford, Pennsylvania. It awarded 92 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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 Haverford College

20
WCUPA crest
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania

West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a fairly large school located in West Chester, Pennsylvania that handed out 93 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at WCUPA

21

California University of Pennsylvania landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. California University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in California, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 105 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Cal U

22

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 81 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Social Sciences Report

23
Bryn Mawr crest
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Bryn Mawr College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Bryn Mawr is a small school located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania that handed out 73 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate 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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Bryn Mawr College

24
HACC crest
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg Area Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. HACC is a fairly large school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 70 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Social Sciences at HACC

25
La Salle crest
La Salle University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

La Salle University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. La Salle University is a small school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 68 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at La Salle

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options