2027 Best Social Sciences Schools in California
Social Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 164 schools to find the best for social sciences students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Social Sciences in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social sciences education in California.
Top Schools in Social Sciences
Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 school for social sciences. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 1,833 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $64,893 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,032 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at University Of California Berkeley
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #2 spot 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. Stanford University awarded about 454 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $85,873 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,295.
Get the full social sciences details for Stanford University
Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 1,830 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $52,382 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,905.
Read more about the social sciences program at University Of California Santa Barbara
Santa Clara University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 169 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $69,077 early in their careers. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,422 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at Santa Clara University
University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 2,711 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $48,400. Students borrow a median of $14,858 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of California Los Angeles
Claremont Mckenna College placed #6 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 162 social sciences degrees were awarded at Claremont Mckenna College in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Claremont Mckenna College earn a median of $83,552 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Claremont Mckenna College
San Jose State University came in at #7 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 393 social sciences degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in social sciences from San Jose State University
University Of Southern California ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 998 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $51,458 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,963 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of Southern California
University Of California Davis earned the #9 position for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 1,260 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $41,967 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,743 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of California Davis
De Anza College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. There were roughly 263 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at De Anza College in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271.
See the full social sciences program report for De Anza College
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #11 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 255 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $51,353 in their early career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $17,854 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #12 for social sciences this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Point Loma Nazarene University earn around $54,116 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,542.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Point Loma Nazarene University
University Of California Irvine earned the #13 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. About 87% of students finish within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 1,425 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $37,066 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,012.
More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of California Irvine
Pomona College came in at #14 for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Pomona College graduates 93% of students within six years. Pomona College awarded about 94 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Pomona College earn around $70,051 in the first couple years of their career.
Read more about the social sciences program at Pomona College
University Of California San Diego came in at #15 for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 1,087 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $40,993 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,836 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of California San Diego
Scripps College placed #16 among the best social sciences schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 social sciences degrees were awarded at Scripps College in the most recent year.
Read more about the social sciences program at Scripps College
San Diego State University came in at #17 for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 780 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $38,680. Typical student debt for the program is $15,450.
More information about a degree in social sciences from San Diego State University
Pepperdine University came in at #18 for social sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 123 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $48,939 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,994.
Get the full social sciences details for Pepperdine University
Diablo Valley College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public university. There were roughly 190 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Diablo Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
Get the full social sciences details for Diablo Valley College
Claremont Graduate University came in at #20 for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Graduate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 51 social sciences degrees were awarded at Claremont Graduate University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Claremont Graduate University earn around $68,239 in the first couple years of their career.
Read more about the social sciences program at Claremont Graduate University
California State University Sacramento came in at #21 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 612 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $40,683 early in their careers. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $17,685 in student loans.
Get the full social sciences details for California State University Sacramento
California State University East Bay came in at #22 for social sciences this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 174 social sciences degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from California State University East Bay earn around $41,022 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,197 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for California State University East Bay
College Of San Mateo came in at #23 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. About 285 social sciences degrees were awarded at College Of San Mateo in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $12,831.
See the full social sciences program report for College Of San Mateo
Sonoma State University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 132 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Sonoma State University earn around $41,717 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,265.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Sonoma State University
Loyola Marymount University came in at #25 for social sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 219 social sciences degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $40,284 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Loyola Marymount University
Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social sciences ranking:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for social sciences:
More Social Sciences Rankings
View All Social Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 164 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.