Maryland · Social Sciences

Best colleges for Social Sciences in Maryland

Ranked by graduate earnings

Frederick Community College, Towson University and University of Maryland-College Park award the most Social Sciences degrees and certificates in Maryland: 131, 15 and 9 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Maryland colleges offer Social Sciences and award 382 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,…

Institutions
8
offering CIP 45.01
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
382
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$37,934
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$11,888
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
58%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Social Science Research Assistants
$73,310
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 institutions, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Frederick Community College
Frederick Public · Associate degree
$32,74913137%—$10,848
2University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi Public · Bachelor's degree Online
$50,55721233%—$23,599
3Towson University
Towson Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$37,9341569%—$20,000

Colleges awarding the most Social Sciences degrees in Maryland

Top 6 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Frederick Community College
Frederick Public
131$32,749
2Towson University
Towson Public
15$37,934
3University of Maryland-College Park
College Park Public
9Not reported
4Frostburg State University
Frostburg Public
4Not reported
5University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore Public
2Not reported
6Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore Private not-for-profit
1Not reported
Show the other 2 Maryland colleges offering Social Sciences
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of Maryland Global Campus (Online)AdelphiPublic212
Coppin State UniversityBaltimorePublic8

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~5,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$58,040
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingCritical ThinkingSpeakingScience

What Social Science Research Assistants earn in Maryland

Jobs in Maryland
700
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$73,310
median $65,550
Best-paying metro
$69,840
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Related careers

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
$80,090 avg · 29,610 jobs
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$83,070 avg · 14,530 jobs
Statisticians
$133,370 avg · 2,730 jobs
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$126,600 avg · 2,600 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Social Sciences programs in Maryland.

Which Maryland colleges award the most Social Sciences degrees?+

Frederick Community College (131 graduates a year), Towson University (15 graduates a year) and University of Maryland-College Park (9 graduates a year) award the most Social Sciences degrees and certificates in Maryland, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Maryland colleges offer Social Sciences.

Which Social Sciences program in Maryland has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Frederick Community College tops the list at $32,749. 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 Maryland?+

The average annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in Maryland is $73,310 (median $65,550), across about 700 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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