Pennsylvania · Behavioral Sciences

Best colleges for Behavioral Sciences in Pennsylvania

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Pennsylvania, Elizabethtown College and Franklin and Marshall College award the most Behavioral Sciences degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania: 76, 54 and 32 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Pennsylvania colleges offer Behavioral Sciences and award 185 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Behavioral Sciences program focuses on understanding and analyzing human behavior through an interdisciplinary approach. It encompasses various fields such as psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and social science, making it…

Institutions
8
offering CIP 30.17
States offered
40
with a program page
Degrees / yr
185
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$38,391
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,907
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
80%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Social Science Research Assistants
$60,080
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, 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
1Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$38,3913284%$27,178$19,000

Colleges awarding the most Behavioral Sciences degrees in Pennsylvania

Top 8 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)
1University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit
76Not reported
2Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown Private not-for-profit
54Not reported
3Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster Private not-for-profit
32$38,391
4Saint Francis University
Loretto Private not-for-profit
9Not reported
5Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
6Point Park University
Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
7Valley Forge Military College
Wayne Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
8Mount Aloysius College
Cresson Private not-for-profit
2Not reported

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 Pennsylvania

Jobs in Pennsylvania
860
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$60,080
median $54,610
Best-paying metro
$63,190
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Related careers

Social and Community Service Managers
$80,870 avg · 10,220 jobs
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
$81,800 avg · 2,120 jobs
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
$61,790 avg · 2,040 jobs
Social Science Research Assistants
$60,080 avg · 860 jobs
Psychologists, All Other
$104,630 avg · 780 jobs
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$104,990 avg · 620 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Behavioral Sciences programs in Pennsylvania.

Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Behavioral Sciences degrees?+

University of Pennsylvania (76 graduates a year), Elizabethtown College (54 graduates a year) and Franklin and Marshall College (32 graduates a year) award the most Behavioral Sciences degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Pennsylvania colleges offer Behavioral Sciences.

Which Behavioral Sciences program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Franklin and Marshall College tops the list at $38,391. 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 Pennsylvania?+

The average annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in Pennsylvania is $60,080 (median $54,610), across about 860 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Behavioral Sciences program?+

The Behavioral Sciences program focuses on understanding and analyzing human behavior through an interdisciplinary approach. It encompasses various fields such as psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and social science, making it…

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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