Best Social Science Research Assistant programs in Missouri, ranked by enrollment
Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research.
40 schools in Missouri run programs that feed this job, graduating 3,421 people a year. The job pays a median of $65,940 in Missouri across about 750 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Missouri that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
13 programs in Missouri that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Missouri (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Missouri page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 42.0101In Missouri → | 1,921 | 56.2% | 38 | $31,426 | $25,250 |
| 2 | CIP 45.1001In Missouri → | 510 | 14.9% | 22 | $35,631 | $23,538 |
| 3 | CIP 45.0601In Missouri → | 292 | 8.5% | 11 | $51,725 | $22,907 |
| 4 | CIP 45.0603In Missouri → | 285 | 8.3% | 8 | $51,725 | $22,907 |
| 5 | CIP 45.1101In Missouri → | 210 | 6.1% | 20 | $34,099 | $25,000 |
| 6 | Behavioral Sciencesmain feeder CIP 30.1701In Missouri → | 117 | 3.4% | 4 | $36,206 | $29,240 |
| 7 | Social Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 45.0101In Missouri → | 48 | 1.4% | 5 | $35,590 | $24,095 |
| 8 | CIP 44.0501In Missouri → | 23 | 0.7% | 6 | $44,740 | $22,000 |
| 9 | CIP 44.0504In Missouri → | 8 | 0.2% | 1 | $44,740 | $22,000 |
| 10 | Survey Research/Methodologymain feeder CIP 45.0103In Missouri → | 4 | 0.1% | 1 | $35,590 | $24,095 |
| 11 | CIP 44.0502In Missouri → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $44,740 | $22,000 |
| 12 | CIP 45.0602In Missouri → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $51,725 | $22,907 |
| 13 | CIP 45.1004In Missouri → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $35,631 | $23,538 |
Top 25 schools in Missouri
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 28 of the 40 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · 6 feeder programs | 794 | Psychology, General | $33,794 | 75% | — | 78% |
| 2 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · 8 feeder programs | 410 | Psychology, General | $29,487 | 58% | — | 91% |
| 3 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 389 | Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | $66,325 | 94% | $14,126 | 12% |
| 4 | University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO Public · 6 feeder programs | 202 | Psychology, General | $31,663 | 57% | — | 63% |
| 5 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MO Public · 4 feeder programs | 195 | Psychology, General | $32,224 | 55% | — | 72% |
| 6 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 159 | Psychology, General | $34,295 | 80% | $24,886 | 75% |
| 7 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO Public · 4 feeder programs | 138 | Psychology, General | $30,477 | 58% | — | 74% |
| 8 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 98 | Psychology, General | $28,934 | 49% | $17,436 | 57% |
| 9 | Columbia College Columbia, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 93 | Psychology, General | $35,685 | 42% | $23,247 | — |
| 10 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 91 | Psychology, General | $25,204 | 66% | $24,921 | 95% |
| 11 | Park University Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 87 | Psychology, General | $30,973 | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 12 | Truman State University Kirksville, MO Public · 4 feeder programs | 72 | Psychology, General | — | 69% | — | 84% |
| 13 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO Public · 2 feeder programs | 62 | Psychology, General | $34,226 | 54% | — | 86% |
| 14 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO Public · 5 feeder programs | 58 | Psychology, General | $34,647 | 42% | — | 97% |
| 15 | William Jewell College Liberty, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 37 | Psychology, General | $31,232 | 68% | $14,072 | 38% |
| 16 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 36 | Psychology, General | $31,368 | 48% | $25,407 | 69% |
| 17 | Avila University Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 34 | Psychology, General | $36,957 | 52% | $16,721 | 88% |
| 18 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO Public · 3 feeder programs | 33 | Economics, General | $41,076 | 54% | — | 64% |
| 19 | Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 32 | Psychology, General | $34,095 | 43% | $14,825 | — |
| 20 | Drury University Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 30 | Psychology, General | $34,095 | 62% | $20,482 | 58% |
| 21 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 30 | Psychology, General | $30,079 | 39% | — | — |
| 22 | Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended Studies Fayette, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 29 | Psychology, General | $36,323 | 0% | $14,535 | 88% |
| 23 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO Public · 2 feeder programs | 28 | Psychology, General | — | 64% | — | 73% |
| 24 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Psychology, General | — | 33% | — | — |
| 25 | Harris - Stowe State University Saint Louis, MO Public · 3 feeder programs | 27 | Psychology, General | — | 28% | — | — |
All 40 schools in Missouri
Every school in Missouri with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri - Columbia | Columbia | Public | 794 | 6 |
| Missouri State University - Springfield | Springfield | Public | 410 | 8 |
| Washington University in St Louis | St. Louis | Private not-for-profit | 389 | 7 |
| University of Missouri - St Louis | Saint Louis | Public | 202 | 6 |
| University of Missouri - Kansas City | Kansas City | Public | 195 | 4 |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 159 | 6 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau | Public | 138 | 4 |
| Lindenwood University | Saint Charles | Private not-for-profit | 98 | 4 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 93 | 3 |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 91 | 2 |
| Park University | Parkville | Private not-for-profit | 87 | 5 |
| Truman State University | Kirksville | Public | 72 | 4 |
| Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville | Public | 62 | 2 |
| Missouri Southern State University | Joplin | Public | 58 | 5 |
| William Jewell College | Liberty | Private not-for-profit | 37 | 3 |
What social science research assistants earn in Missouri
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $61,990. Missouri pays above the national figure.
Concentrated here: Missouri employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.
Metro areas in Missouri
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Social Science Research Assistants page.
How to become a Social Science Research Assistant
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Missouri
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 19 majors mapped to Social Science Research Assistants19 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 03.0204Environmental/Natural Resource Economics
- 30.1701Behavioral Sciences
- 30.4601History and Political Science
- 42.0101Psychology, General
- 42.2708Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology
- 44.0501Public Policy Analysis, General
- 44.0502Education Policy Analysis
- 44.0503Health Policy Analysis
- 44.0504International Policy Analysis
- 45.0101Social Sciences, General
- 45.0103Survey Research/Methodology
- 45.0601Economics, General
- 45.0602Applied Economics
- 45.0603Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- 45.0604Development Economics and International Development
- 45.1001Political Science and Government, General
- 45.1004Political Economy
- 45.1101Sociology, General
- 45.1102Applied/Public Sociology
Common questions
Answers for people weighing social science research assistants programs in Missouri.
What degree do you need to become a Social Science Research Assistant?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Psychology, General, which awarded 1,921 degrees in Missouri in 2024-25, 56.2% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Social Science Research Assistant?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 13 programs to this occupation. The largest are Psychology, Economics, Political Science and Government, Sociology, plus 3 more. Together they graduate about 3,421 people a year in Missouri.
How much do social science research assistants earn in Missouri?+
The median is $65,940 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 6.4% above the U.S. median of $61,990. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for social science research assistants growing?+
BLS projects a +4.4% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 5,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Missouri?+
40 institutions in Missouri reported graduates from at least one of the 13 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do social science research assistants work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Research Assistant, Research Associate, Social Research Assistant, Graduate Research Assistant among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-4061.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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