2027 Best Social Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region
Social Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their social sciences programs.
College Factual analyzed 201 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best social sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Social Sciences in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social sciences education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Social Sciences
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for social sciences. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 634 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $72,756 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $11,990 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Vanderbilt University
Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social sciences, ranking #2. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 547 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Duke University earn a median of $82,779 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,674 to complete this degree.
Get the full social sciences details for Duke University
A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for social sciences. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school 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.
Get the full social sciences details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
A rank of #4 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for social sciences. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 696 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $65,883 in their early career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the top schools for social sciences. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 168 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social sciences program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
College Of William And Mary came in at #6 for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. College Of William And Mary awarded about 384 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $54,298 in their early career. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $18,814 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for College Of William And Mary
Davidson College came in at #7 for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 118 social sciences degrees were awarded at Davidson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $59,485. Typical student debt for the program is $21,344.
Read more about the social sciences program at Davidson College
Wake Forest University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 273 social sciences degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Wake Forest University earn around $52,603 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,074.
See the full social sciences program report for Wake Forest University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #9 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 701 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $46,397 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,737.
Read more about the social sciences program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
James Madison University earned the #10 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 358 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $53,268. Students borrow a median of $19,525 to complete this degree.
Get the full social sciences details for James Madison University
University Of Florida earned the #11 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 1,200 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $38,162 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,172.
Get the full social sciences details for University Of Florida
Samford University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 38 social sciences degrees were awarded at Samford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Samford University earn around $64,132 in the first couple years of their career. Samford University graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at Samford University
University Of Richmond ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Richmond awarded about 81 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $54,780 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,033.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of Richmond
Emory University came in at #14 for social sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 529 social sciences degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $50,640. Typical student debt for the program is $20,277.
Get the full social sciences details for Emory University
University Of Georgia earned the #15 position for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 733 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $38,597. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $19,858 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at University Of Georgia
Belmont University landed the #16 spot for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Belmont University awarded about 40 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Belmont University earn around $49,699 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete this degree.
Get the full social sciences details for Belmont University
Florida State University placed #17 among the best social sciences schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Florida State University awarded about 1,435 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $45,254 early in their careers. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,252 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Florida State University
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #18 for social sciences this year. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 388 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Tulane University Of Louisiana earn around $40,738 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,884.
Get the full social sciences details for Tulane University Of Louisiana
Washington And Lee University came in at #19 for social sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lexington. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 77 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Washington And Lee University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Washington And Lee University generally make around $71,737. Students borrow a median of $23,399 to complete this degree.
Get the full social sciences details for Washington And Lee University
High Point University placed #20 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. High Point University awarded about 40 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social sciences program at High Point University
Elon University earned the #21 position for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Elon University awarded about 78 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $55,627 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,910.
See the full social sciences program report for Elon University
George Mason University landed the #22 spot for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 697 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $58,158. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $22,282 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for George Mason University
University Of Miami ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. About 363 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $38,485 early in their careers. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,601 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at University Of Miami
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 460 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $37,910 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $24,100 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Alabama At Huntsville placed #25 among the best social sciences schools. University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Huntsville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Huntsville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Alabama At Huntsville earn around $62,903 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,797.
Get the full social sciences details for University Of Alabama At Huntsville
Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools
These schools also placed among the best for social sciences this year:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for social sciences:
- #51 — Wofford College · Spartanburg, SC
- #52 — Sewanee The University Of The South · Sewanee, TN
- #53 — University Of Kentucky · Lexington, KY
- #54 — University Of Mary Washington · Fredericksburg, VA
- #55 — Wingate University · Wingate, NC
- #56 — Centre College · Danville, KY
- #57 — Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA
- #58 — The University Of Tampa · Tampa, FL
- #59 — Athens State University · Athens, AL
- #60 — Spelman College · Atlanta, GA
Narrow Social Sciences Schools by State
More Social Sciences Rankings
View All Social Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 201 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.