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.
College Factual analyzed 773 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best social sciences schools.
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in social sciences. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 578 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $72,774 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,990 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #2. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,059 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $84,416 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,370 to complete this degree.
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Duke University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 422 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $82,805 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,674.
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Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #4. 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. Northwestern University awarded about 407 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $77,430 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,409 to complete this degree.
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Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 287 social sciences degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $54,001 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $15,572 in student loans.
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Harvard University came in at #6 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 790 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $85,799 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,715 to complete this degree.
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Georgetown University came in at #7 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 808 social sciences degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $68,011 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,003.
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Dartmouth College placed #8 among the best social sciences schools. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 332 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $77,576 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,035.
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Johns Hopkins University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 287 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $74,346. Students borrow a median of $12,395 to complete this degree.
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Brown University came in at #10 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 482 social sciences degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $67,754 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,409.
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Yale University earned the #11 position for social sciences this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. About 421 social sciences degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Yale University earn a median of $75,237 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $13,967 in student loans.
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Tufts University landed the #12 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 414 social sciences degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Tufts University earn around $70,300 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,129 in student loans.
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Princeton University landed the #13 spot for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Princeton University awarded about 265 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $88,074 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania placed #14 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 417 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $81,289. Typical student debt for the program is $13,394.
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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. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 317 social sciences degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $85,343 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $12,295 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #16 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 777 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $54,410 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,319 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley came in at #17 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 1,745 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $65,217 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,032 in student loans.
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Cornell University landed the #18 spot for social sciences this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 341 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,026 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,395.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Cornell University
Colgate University came in at #19 for social sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. About 284 social sciences degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $68,940 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,988 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #20 spot for social sciences this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,760 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $52,347 in their early career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,905 in student loans.
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Boston College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 464 social sciences degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $67,184. Students borrow a median of $18,208 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #22 for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 629 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $65,755 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans.
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Santa Clara University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 169 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $69,077. Students borrow a median of $20,422 to complete this degree.
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Wesleyan University placed #24 among the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 225 social sciences degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
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Bowdoin College came in at #25 for social sciences this year. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 178 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $69,435 in their early career. Bowdoin College graduates carry a median of $19,555 in student loans.
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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 · 773 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).