Best colleges for Social Sciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State University - Stanislaus, California State University - Sacramento and California State University - San Marcos are the top bachelor's Social Sciences programs in California by graduate earnings. California State University - Stanislaus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,149, College Scorecard. College of the Canyons, American River College and Folsom Lake College award the most Social Sciences degrees in California: 455, 350 and 313 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 67 California colleges offer Social Sciences and award 7,748 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Social Sciences program, also known as Social Sciences, General, focuses on the study of human behavior in its social and cultural contexts. This program is designed for students interested in exploring the complexities of society,…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Stanislaus Turlock Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,149 | 37 | 53% | — | $15,446 |
| 2 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,061 | 20 | 56% | — | $16,194 |
| 3 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,446 | 78 | 55% | — | $18,719 |
| 4 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,382 | 93 | 63% | — | $16,500 |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,871 | 41 | 87% | — | $16,338 |
| 6 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,678 | 61 | 59% | — | $11,000 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,789 | 116 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 8 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,704 | 40 | 76% | — | $20,915 |
| 9 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public · Bachelor's degree | $18,893 | 99 | 55% | — | — |
Top 9 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merced College Merced Public · Associate degree | $34,168 | 142 | 36% | — | $7,843 |
| 2 | Sierra College Rocklin Public · Associate degree | $30,103 | 422 | 42% | — | $7,834 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa Public · Associate degree | $27,691 | 359 | 37% | — | — |
| 4 | Butte College Oroville Public · Associate degree | $26,482 | 339 | 45% | — | $9,036 |
| 5 | Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster Public · Associate degree | $24,052 | 409 | 34% | — | $12,711 |
| 6 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public · Associate degree | $22,947 | 1,037 | 37% | — | $5,500 |
| 7 | Ohlone College Fremont Public · Associate degree | $22,545 | 383 | 52% | — | $5,500 |
| 8 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto Public · Associate degree | $20,084 | 77 | 36% | — | $6,625 |
| 9 | Barstow Community College Barstow Public · Associate degree Small program | $22,398 | 7 | 39% | — | $5,588 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Sciences degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita Public | 455 | Not reported |
| 2 | American River College Sacramento Public | 350 | Not reported |
| 3 | Folsom Lake College Folsom Public | 313 | Not reported |
| 4 | Palomar College San Marcos Public | 257 | Not reported |
| 5 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 250 | Not reported |
| 6 | Yuba College Marysville Public | 193 | Not reported |
| 7 | Woodland Community College Woodland Public | 192 | Not reported |
| 8 | College of San Mateo San Mateo Public | 183 | Not reported |
| 9 | Clovis Community College Fresno Public | 158 | Not reported |
| 10 | Glendale Community College Glendale Public | 149 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 57 California colleges offering Social Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061).
Top skills
What Social Science Research Assistants earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Sciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Social Sciences degrees?+
College of the Canyons (455 graduates a year), American River College (350 graduates a year) and Folsom Lake College (313 graduates a year) award the most Social Sciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 67 California colleges offer Social Sciences.
What is the best college for Social Sciences in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State University - Stanislaus leads among bachelor's Social Sciences programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,149, College Scorecard. California State University - Sacramento and California State University - San Marcos follow. By degrees awarded, College of the Canyons is the largest, with 455 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Sciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State University - Stanislaus tops the list at $39,149. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Social Science Research Assistants earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in California is $70,260 (median $60,250), across about 5,300 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Social Sciences program?+
The Social Sciences program, also known as Social Sciences, General, focuses on the study of human behavior in its social and cultural contexts. This program is designed for students interested in exploring the complexities of society,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, writing, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Social Science Research Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 5,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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