2027 Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois
Social Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best social sciences schools.
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Best Schools for Social Sciences in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social sciences education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Social Sciences
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in social sciences. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 572 social sciences degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $76,902. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,409 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Northwestern University
University Of Chicago came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. 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. About 1,919 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $78,184 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,370.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 780 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $49,709 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,375.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 231 social sciences degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $35,287 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $22,615 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at North Park University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 19 social sciences degrees were awarded at North Park University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $51,611. Students borrow a median of $27,360 to complete this degree.
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Wheaton College Illinois ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Wheaton College Illinois awarded about 97 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Wheaton College Illinois earn around $52,410 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Wheaton College Illinois
Illinois State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 234 social sciences degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $34,859. Typical student debt for the program is $23,824.
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Depaul University earned the #8 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 334 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $40,002. Typical student debt for the program is $24,192.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 234 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $36,729. Students borrow a median of $21,347 to complete this degree.
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Benedictine University placed #10 among the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lisle. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $42,023. Typical student debt for the program is $32,824.
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Illinois College earned the #11 position for social sciences this year. Set in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois College awarded about 16 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Illinois College generally make around $41,184. Typical student debt for the program is $26,922.
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National Louis University placed #12 among the best social sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 30% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $30,170. Typical student debt for the program is $23,437.
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Aurora University landed the #13 spot for social sciences this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Aurora University earn around $51,483 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,507.
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Rockford College placed #14 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Rockford, Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 22 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Rockford College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Rockford College earn around $56,020 in the first couple years of their career. Rockford College graduates carry a median of $28,094 in student loans.
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Harper College came in at #15 for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. There were roughly 11 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
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Lake Forest College earned the #16 position for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. Lake Forest College graduates 78% of students within six years. Lake Forest College awarded about 64 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $48,845. Students borrow a median of $26,992 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 146 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $34,263 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $25,307 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
North Central College came in at #18 for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at North Central College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from North Central College earn around $46,005 in the first couple years of their career. North Central College graduates carry a median of $26,575 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from North Central College
Northern Illinois University came in at #19 for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. Northern Illinois University awarded about 187 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $36,284 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,476.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Northern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #20 position for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 55 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $29,392 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $24,933 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Mckendree University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 53% of students finish within six years. Mckendree University awarded about 35 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $40,015 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Mckendree University
Millikin University placed #22 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 social sciences degrees were awarded at Millikin University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $58,852. Students borrow a median of $26,036 to complete this degree.
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Western Illinois University landed the #23 spot for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Macomb. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 85 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $32,359 in their early career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $27,138 in student loans.
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Augustana College Illinois placed #24 among the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rock Island. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 34 social sciences degrees were awarded at Augustana College Illinois in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $36,635 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,839.
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Olivet Nazarene University came in at #25 for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Olivet Nazarene University earn around $54,169 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full social sciences program report for Olivet Nazarene University
Rest of the Top 31 Social Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social sciences ranking:
More Social Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 31 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.