Best colleges for Social Sciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Riverside and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo are the top bachelor's Social Sciences programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $61,109, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley, University of California-San Diego and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo award the most Social Sciences degrees in California: 225, 69 and 27 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 California colleges offer Social Sciences and award 356 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Social Sciences program, officially titled 'Social Sciences, Other', focuses on the study of human behavior within social and cultural contexts. This interdisciplinary field encompasses various branches that analyze how individuals and…
Top 3 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 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $61,109 | 225 | 93% | — | $15,000 |
| 2 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,934 | 21 | 76% | — | $17,833 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,931 | 27 | 86% | — | $17,000 |
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 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 225 | $61,109 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 69 | Not reported |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 27 | $28,931 |
| 4 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 21 | $39,934 |
| 5 | Dominican University of California San Rafael Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 6 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 7 | Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 1 | Not reported |
| 9 | Cerritos College Norwalk Public | 1 | Not reported |
| 10 | Napa Valley College Napa Public | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 California colleges offering Social Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humphreys University (Online) | Stockton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other (SOC 19-3099).
What Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other 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?+
University of California-Berkeley (225 graduates a year), University of California-San Diego (69 graduates a year) and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (27 graduates a year) award the most Social Sciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 California colleges offer Social Sciences.
What is the best college for Social Sciences in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley leads among bachelor's Social Sciences programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $61,109, College Scorecard. University of California-Riverside and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Berkeley is the largest, with 225 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, University of California-Berkeley tops the list at $61,109. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other in California is $103,820 (median $97,900), across about 2,970 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Social Sciences program?+
The Social Sciences program, officially titled 'Social Sciences, Other', focuses on the study of human behavior within social and cultural contexts. This interdisciplinary field encompasses various branches that analyze how individuals and…
What is the job outlook for Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about -1.7% growth with around 3,200 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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