2026 Best Social Sciences Schools in North Carolina
Social Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools to find the best for social sciences students.
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Best Schools for Social Sciences in North Carolina
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
No school ranked higher than Duke University this year for social sciences. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 482 social sciences degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,484. Typical student debt for the program is $13,674.
See the full social sciences program report for Duke University
Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #2. 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. About 818 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $53,392 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $14,319 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Wake Forest University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 89% of students finish within six years. Wake Forest University awarded about 283 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $52,229 in their early career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $22,074 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Wake Forest University
A rank of #4 makes Davidson College one of the top schools for social sciences. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Davidson College awarded about 136 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $62,682. Davidson College graduates carry a median of $21,344 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at Davidson College
Elon University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 86 social sciences degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $49,643 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,910 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Elon University
High Point University placed #6 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%. About 35 social sciences degrees were awarded at High Point University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from High Point University earn around $113,352 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for High Point University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #7 spot for social sciences this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 454 social sciences degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $37,721 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,100.
More information about a degree in social sciences from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Wingate University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Wingate University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Wingate University earn a median of $53,836 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,556 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for Wingate University
Appalachian State University earned the #9 position for social sciences this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. About 253 social sciences degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $28,590 early in their careers. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,739 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Appalachian State University
East Carolina University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 362 social sciences degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $34,949. Students borrow a median of $25,863 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social sciences program at East Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #11 among the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 397 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $32,214 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,086 to complete this degree.
Get the full social sciences details for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #12 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 210 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $28,279 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,503 to complete this degree.
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Western Carolina University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 74 social sciences degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $27,419 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,512.
Get the full social sciences details for Western Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #14 spot for social sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. About 56% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro awarded about 231 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn around $28,496 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,796 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Belmont Abbey College landed the #15 spot for social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Belmont, Belmont Abbey College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Belmont Abbey College awarded about 14 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Belmont Abbey College earn around $40,322 in the first couple years of their career. Belmont Abbey College graduates carry a median of $27,140 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at Belmont Abbey College
University Of North Carolina At Asheville came in at #16 for social sciences this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Asheville. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 65 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Asheville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $24,544. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of North Carolina At Asheville
North Carolina A And T State University placed #17 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 75 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $39,501 in their early career. North Carolina A And T State University graduates carry a median of $29,094 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from North Carolina A And T State University
Peace College earned the #18 position for social sciences this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Raleigh. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 19 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Peace College in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Peace College earn a median of $41,509 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Peace College
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke landed the #19 spot for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pembroke. About 44% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke awarded about 117 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $31,301 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates carry a median of $27,291 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
North Carolina Central University earned the #20 position for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. About 155 social sciences degrees were awarded at North Carolina Central University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from North Carolina Central University earn around $33,429 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina Central University graduates carry a median of $32,390 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at North Carolina Central University
Winston Salem State University landed the #21 spot for social sciences this year. Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Winston Salem State University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Winston Salem State University earn a median of $25,940 early in their careers. Winston Salem State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Winston Salem State University
Fayetteville State University earned the #22 position for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 80 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville State University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $33,544 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,365 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social sciences program at Fayetteville State University
Johnson C Smith University earned the #23 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit university. Johnson C Smith University graduates 34% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Johnson C Smith University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Johnson C Smith University earn around $32,751 in the first couple years of their career. Johnson C Smith University graduates carry a median of $32,047 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Johnson C Smith University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 46 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.