2027 Best Social Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
Social Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 66 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best social sciences schools.
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Best Schools for Social Sciences in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social sciences education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Social Sciences
Washington University In St Louis tops our 2027 ranking of the best social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 377 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $54,859 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $15,572 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Washington University In St Louis
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 794 social sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $47,870 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,573.
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A rank of #3 makes Carleton College one of the top schools for social sciences. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 75 social sciences degrees were awarded at Carleton College in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Carleton College earn around $66,567 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,295.
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Grinnell College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 131 social sciences degrees were awarded at Grinnell College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $40,304 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,931 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 545 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $44,404 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,860 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
Wartburg College landed the #6 spot for social sciences this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Waverly. About 64% of students finish within six years. Wartburg College awarded about 26 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Wartburg College earn around $46,918 in the first couple years of their career. Wartburg College graduates carry a median of $26,793 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Wartburg College
University Of Iowa came in at #7 for social sciences this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Iowa awarded about 373 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $41,493 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,293.
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St Olaf College earned the #8 position for social sciences this year. St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 127 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at St Olaf College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $50,589 in their early career. St Olaf College graduates carry a median of $25,853 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #9 spot for social sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Duluth. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 106 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Minnesota Duluth earn around $44,895 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $23,147 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #10 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 143 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $36,810. Students borrow a median of $16,106 to complete this degree.
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Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #11 spot for social sciences this year. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 21 social sciences degrees were awarded at Nebraska Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $52,199 in their early career. Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $27,667 in student loans.
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Bemidji State University earned the #12 position for social sciences this year. Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Bemidji State University awarded about 37 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Bemidji State University earn around $48,984 in the first couple years of their career. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $25,819 in student loans.
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Macalester College came in at #13 for social sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 109 social sciences degrees were awarded at Macalester College in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Macalester College earn around $51,999 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,096 to complete this degree.
See the full social sciences program report for Macalester College
Iowa State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 134 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $42,729 early in their careers. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $24,504 in student loans.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #15 position for social sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 78 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $51,925. Typical student debt for the program is $23,893.
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University Of Kansas placed #16 among the best social sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 218 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from University Of Kansas earn around $37,581 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $25,980 in student loans.
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University Of Nebraska At Kearney landed the #17 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 26 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Kearney in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of $46,744 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete this degree.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #18 position for social sciences this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 91 social sciences degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $30,502 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,378.
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Benedictine College landed the #19 spot for social sciences this year. Set in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Benedictine College graduates 62% of students within six years. Benedictine College awarded about 30 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Benedictine College earn around $46,255 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social sciences from Benedictine College
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #20 for social sciences this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 20 social sciences degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn around $67,909 in the first couple years of their career. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
Read more about the social sciences program at Maryville University Of Saint Louis
University Of North Dakota landed the #21 spot for social sciences this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 86 social sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $34,490 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,431.
More information about a degree in social sciences from University Of North Dakota
Simpson College placed #22 among the best social sciences schools. Located in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 18 social sciences degrees were awarded at Simpson College in the most recent year. Social Sciences graduates of Simpson College earn a median of $48,888 early in their careers. Simpson College graduates carry a median of $26,816 in student loans.
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Pittsburg State University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. Pittsburg State University awarded about 21 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Social Sciences graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $50,003 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,669.
See the full social sciences program report for Pittsburg State University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates 67% of students within six years. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 180 social sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social sciences program make about $36,479 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,951.
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Drake University placed #25 among the best social sciences schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 60 social sciences degrees were awarded at Drake University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social sciences degree from Drake University earn around $56,228 in the first couple years of their career. Drake University graduates carry a median of $21,138 in student loans.
See the full social sciences program report for Drake University
Rest of the Top 50 Social Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social sciences ranking:
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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 · 66 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.