2027 Best Social Sciences Schools in Virginia
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social sciences students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Social Sciences in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social sciences education in Virginia.
Top Schools in Social Sciences
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in social sciences. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 696 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $65,883 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,609 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at College Of William And Mary, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 384 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $54,298 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,814 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for College Of William And Mary
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 701 social sciences degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $46,397 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,737.
See the full social sciences program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
James Madison University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 358 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $53,268 in their early career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $19,525 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for James Madison University
Students looking for a strong social sciences program will find one at University Of Richmond, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. University Of Richmond graduates carry a median of $23,033 in student loans.
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Washington And Lee University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $71,737 in their early career. Washington And Lee University graduates carry a median of $23,399 in student loans.
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George Mason University came in at #7 for social sciences this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $22,282.
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Christopher Newport University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 119 social sciences degrees were awarded at Christopher Newport University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $42,910 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,669.
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Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #9 spot for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 256 social sciences degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $32,458 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,041 to complete this degree.
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Northern Virginia Community College placed #10 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. Northern Virginia Community College awarded about 260 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Northern Virginia Community College earn around $23,637 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at Northern Virginia Community College
University Of Mary Washington landed the #11 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 117 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Mary Washington earn around $36,546 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Mary Washington graduates carry a median of $23,725 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of Mary Washington
Old Dominion University landed the #12 spot for social sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Norfolk. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 291 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Old Dominion University earn around $34,924 in the first couple years of their career. Old Dominion University graduates carry a median of $25,248 in student loans.
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Marymount University earned the #13 position for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Marymount University graduates 54% of students within six years. Marymount University awarded about 16 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Marymount University earn a median of $41,186 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,880.
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Radford University earned the #14 position for social sciences this year. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 70 social sciences degrees were awarded at Radford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $32,991 in their early career. Radford University graduates carry a median of $25,063 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Radford University
Liberty University landed the #15 spot for social sciences this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 320 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $47,022. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $24,855 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Liberty University
Randolph Macon College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 28 social sciences degrees were awarded at Randolph Macon College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $41,222 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Randolph Macon College
Virginia Military Institute ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Virginia Military Institute is a small public school located in the town of Lexington. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 107 social sciences degrees were awarded at Virginia Military Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Virginia Military Institute earn around $45,632 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Military Institute graduates carry a median of $22,900 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Virginia Military Institute
Lynchburg College came in at #18 for social sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lynchburg. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 41 social sciences degrees were awarded at Lynchburg College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Lynchburg College generally make around $107,159.
See the full social sciences program report for Lynchburg College
Hampden Sydney College landed the #19 spot for social sciences this year. Set in the rural area of Hampden-Sydney, Hampden Sydney College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 49 social sciences degrees were awarded at Hampden Sydney College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $46,906 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Hampden Sydney College
Longwood University placed #20 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Longwood University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $27,948 early in their careers. Longwood University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at Longwood University
The University Of Virginias College At Wise came in at #21 for social sciences this year. The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wise. About 47% of students finish within six years. About 54 social sciences degrees were awarded at The University Of Virginias College At Wise in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $43,988 in their early career. The University Of Virginias College At Wise graduates carry a median of $17,714 in student loans.
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Norfolk State University earned the #22 position for social sciences this year. Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Norfolk. About 39% of students finish within six years. Norfolk State University awarded about 82 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $54,971 in their early career.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Norfolk State University
Virginia Western Community College came in at #23 for social sciences this year. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. There were roughly 56 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Western Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $19,220 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,128.
See the full social sciences program report for Virginia Western Community College
Hampton University landed the #24 spot for social sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hampton. Hampton University graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Hampton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Hampton University earn around $37,200 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Hampton University
Tidewater Community College earned the #25 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 151 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Tidewater Community College in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $29,425 early in their careers. Tidewater Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Tidewater Community College
Rest of the Top 32 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 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 · 32 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.
