Social Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 960 schools to find the best for social sciences students.
Where you study social sciences matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Social Sciences rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Social Sciences Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Vanderbilt University the best school in the country for a degree in social sciences. 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. About 634 social sciences degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $72,756. Students borrow a median of $11,990 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for social sciences. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 572 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Northwestern University earn around $76,902 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,409 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 1,410 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Georgetown University earn around $72,472 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,003 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 332 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $77,576. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $17,035 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Washington University In St Louis, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 377 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $54,859 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,572 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 1,205 social sciences degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $84,634 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,715 to complete this degree.
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Duke University came in at #7 for social sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 547 social sciences degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Duke University earn around $82,779 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,674 to complete this degree.
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Brown University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 701 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $67,735. Typical student debt for the program is $13,409.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Brown University
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #9 for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 514 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $82,088 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,394.
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Yale University placed #10 among the best social sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 617 social sciences degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Yale University earn around $75,615 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $13,967 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Yale University
Johns Hopkins University placed #11 among the best social sciences schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 1,469 social sciences degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $79,253. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $12,395 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Johns Hopkins University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #12 spot for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 882 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $53,387 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,319 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago earned the #13 position for 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 1,919 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $78,184. Students borrow a median of $15,370 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of Chicago
University Of California Berkeley came in at #14 for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 1,833 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $64,893 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,032 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University came in at #15 for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 454 social sciences degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Stanford University earn around $85,873 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,295 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 378 social sciences degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $87,076 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,250.
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Cornell University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 513 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Cornell University earn around $75,566 in the first couple years of their career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $14,395 in student loans.
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Colgate University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 284 social sciences degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Colgate University earn around $68,940 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,988.
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University Of California Santa Barbara placed #19 among the best social sciences schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 1,830 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $52,382. Students borrow a median of $15,905 to complete this degree.
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Santa Clara University landed the #20 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Santa Clara University awarded about 169 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Santa Clara University earn around $69,077 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,422 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Santa Clara University
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #21 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 696 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $65,883 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans.
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Wesleyan University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 225 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $39,764 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #23 for social sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 58 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $113,129 in the first couple years of their career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
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Tufts University placed #24 among the best social sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 592 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $71,107 early in their careers. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,129 in student loans.
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Bowdoin College placed #25 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bowdoin College graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 178 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $69,435. Bowdoin College graduates carry a median of $19,555 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Bowdoin College
Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong social sciences education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 960 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).
