Best colleges for Social Sciences in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
New York University, Touro University and Mercy University are the top bachelor's Social Sciences programs in New York by graduate earnings. New York University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,016, College Scorecard. Columbia University, University at Buffalo and Bard College award the most Social Sciences degrees in New York: 210, 179 and 165 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 29 New York colleges offer Social Sciences and award 1,026 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 8 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 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,016 | 65 | 88% | $29,023 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Touro University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,111 | 30 | 72% | $27,110 | $33,937 |
| 3 | Mercy University Dobbs Ferry Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,726 | 53 | 46% | $17,604 | $26,978 |
| 4 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,844 | 179 | 75% | — | $21,000 |
| 5 | Dominican University New York Orangeburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,351 | 27 | 53% | $25,775 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,302 | 165 | 68% | $24,278 | $24,747 |
| 7 | Manhattan University Riverdale Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,062 | 2 | 64% | $26,807 | $26,080 |
| 8 | St. Joseph's University - New York Brooklyn Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,488 | 5 | 69% | $17,134 | $24,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Sciences degrees in New York
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 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 210 | Not reported |
| 2 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 179 | $28,844 |
| 3 | Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson Private not-for-profit | 165 | $23,302 |
| 4 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 65 | $49,016 |
| 5 | Mercy University Dobbs Ferry Private not-for-profit | 53 | $36,726 |
| 6 | Touro University New York Private not-for-profit | 30 | $40,111 |
| 7 | Dominican University New York Orangeburg Private not-for-profit | 27 | $28,351 |
| 8 | Mount Saint Mary College Newburgh Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
| 9 | Marymount Manhattan College New York Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Rochester Rochester Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 19 New York colleges offering Social Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Community College | Buffalo | Public | 67 |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center (Online) | New York | Public | 53 |
| Rockland Community College | Suffern | Public | 51 |
| Empire State University (Degree completion) | Saratoga Springs | Public | 26 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | New York | Public | 5 |
| St. Joseph's University - New York | Brooklyn | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Excelsior University (Online) | Albany | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| St. Thomas Aquinas College | Sparkill | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Canisius University | Buffalo | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Long Island University | Brookville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Daemen University | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Manhattan University | Riverdale | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Mount Saint Vincent | Bronx | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Clarkson University | Potsdam | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Colgate University | Hamilton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Binghamton University | Vestal | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061).
Top skills
What Social Science Research Assistants earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Sciences programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Social Sciences degrees?+
Columbia University (210 graduates a year), University at Buffalo (179 graduates a year) and Bard College (165 graduates a year) award the most Social Sciences degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 29 New York colleges offer Social Sciences.
What is the best college for Social Sciences in New York?+
By graduate earnings, New York University leads among bachelor's Social Sciences programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,016, College Scorecard. Touro University and Mercy University follow. By degrees awarded, Columbia University is the largest, with 210 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Sciences program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, New York University tops the list at $49,016. 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 New York?+
The average annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in New York is $66,500 (median $61,210), across about 3,040 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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