Best colleges for Social Sciences in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of West Florida, University of South Florida and University of Central Florida are the top bachelor's Social Sciences programs in Florida by graduate earnings. University of West Florida leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,501, College Scorecard. Florida State University, University of South Florida and University of Central Florida award the most Social Sciences degrees in Florida: 290, 111 and 32 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Florida colleges offer Social Sciences and award 498 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 5 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 West Florida Pensacola Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,501 | 20 | 59% | — | $22,916 |
| 2 | University of South Florida Tampa Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,427 | 111 | 77% | — | $24,095 |
| 3 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,209 | 32 | 78% | — | $26,800 |
| 4 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,235 | 290 | 86% | — | $23,375 |
| 5 | Jacksonville University Jacksonville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,204 | 15 | 51% | $25,813 | $31,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Sciences degrees in Florida
Top 8 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 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public | 290 | $33,235 |
| 2 | University of South Florida Tampa Public | 111 | $34,427 |
| 3 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public | 32 | $34,209 |
| 4 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of West Florida Pensacola Public | 20 | $37,501 |
| 6 | Jacksonville University Jacksonville Private not-for-profit | 15 | $31,204 |
| 7 | Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 8 | Florida Southern College Lakeland Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061).
Top skills
What Social Science Research Assistants earn in Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Sciences programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Social Sciences degrees?+
Florida State University (290 graduates a year), University of South Florida (111 graduates a year) and University of Central Florida (32 graduates a year) award the most Social Sciences degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Florida colleges offer Social Sciences.
What is the best college for Social Sciences in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, University of West Florida leads among bachelor's Social Sciences programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,501, College Scorecard. University of South Florida and University of Central Florida follow. By degrees awarded, Florida State University is the largest, with 290 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Sciences program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of West Florida tops the list at $37,501. 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 Florida?+
The average annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in Florida is $54,530 (median $50,700), across about 1,130 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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