2027 Best Social Sciences Schools in New York
Social Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 72 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social sciences students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Social Sciences in New York
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Social Sciences
Cornell University tops our 2027 ranking of the best social sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 513 social sciences degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Cornell University earn around $75,566 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,395.
See the full social sciences program report for Cornell University
Colgate University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $16,988.
See the full social sciences program report for Colgate University
Barnard College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 251 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $75,704 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,325 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for Barnard College
New York University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 1,281 social sciences degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $62,747 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,614 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at New York University
Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at Hamilton College, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Clinton. Hamilton College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 172 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $68,517 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,293.
See the full social sciences program report for Hamilton College
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #6 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,501 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $76,643 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,400.
Read more about the social sciences program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
Weill Cornell Medical College came in at #7 for social sciences this year. Weill Cornell Medical College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Weill Cornell Medical College awarded about 36 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full social sciences details for Weill Cornell Medical College
University Of Rochester ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Rochester awarded about 244 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $56,784. Typical student debt for the program is $20,566.
Read more about the social sciences program at University Of Rochester
Yeshiva University landed the #9 spot for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 28 social sciences degrees were awarded at Yeshiva University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Yeshiva University earn a median of $52,838 early in their careers. Yeshiva University graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Yeshiva University
Vassar College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 139 social sciences degrees were awarded at Vassar College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $62,143 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,623 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social sciences program at Vassar College
Teachers College At Columbia University landed the #11 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of New York, Teachers College At Columbia University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Teachers College At Columbia University awarded about 83 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Teachers College At Columbia University earn a median of $68,137 early in their careers.
Read more about the social sciences program at Teachers College At Columbia University
Fordham University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 440 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $49,809 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,385 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Lehman College landed the #13 spot for social sciences this year. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. Cuny Lehman College graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 222 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $41,237. Typical student debt for the program is $12,757.
Read more about the social sciences program at Cuny Lehman College
Suny At Binghamton earned the #14 position for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 572 social sciences degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $46,410 early in their careers. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $21,405 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Suny At Binghamton
Syracuse University landed the #15 spot for social sciences this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 626 social sciences degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $50,318 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,206 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for Syracuse University
Excelsior College landed the #16 spot for social sciences this year. Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Albany. About 23 social sciences degrees were awarded at Excelsior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Excelsior College generally make around $70,677. Excelsior College graduates carry a median of $19,311 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Excelsior College
University At Buffalo landed the #17 spot for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Buffalo. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 698 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $32,052 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,640 to complete this degree.
Get the full social sciences details for University At Buffalo
Marist College landed the #18 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 52 social sciences degrees were awarded at Marist College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $47,800. Typical student debt for the program is $24,873.
See the full social sciences program report for Marist College
Stony Brook University landed the #19 spot for social sciences this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. About 76% of students finish within six years. Stony Brook University awarded about 382 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Stony Brook University earn around $39,241 in the first couple years of their career. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $20,364 in student loans.
Get the full social sciences details for Stony Brook University
Skidmore College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 101 social sciences degrees were awarded at Skidmore College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $40,353 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,630.
Read more about the social sciences program at Skidmore College
Union College New York ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Union College New York graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 108 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Union College New York in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $59,742 in their early career. Union College New York graduates carry a median of $26,959 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Union College New York
Cuny Hunter College earned the #22 position for social sciences this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 505 social sciences degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $33,255 early in their careers. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,340 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Cuny Hunter College
Cuny Graduate School And University Center earned the #23 position for social sciences this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. There were roughly 260 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $72,222 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #24 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice awarded about 470 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $35,319. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $13,212 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College placed #25 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 180 social sciences degrees were awarded at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $43,838 in their early career. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates carry a median of $11,857 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social sciences ranking:
More Social Sciences Rankings
View All Social Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 72 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.
