Best Social Scientist programs in Pennsylvania, ranked by enrollment
All social scientists and related workers not listed.
56 schools in Pennsylvania run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,136 people a year. The job pays a median of $97,640 in Pennsylvania across about 620 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Pennsylvania that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
25 programs in Pennsylvania that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Pennsylvania (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 Pennsylvania page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 30.3301In Pennsylvania → | 227 | 20.0% | 18 | $37,223 | $20,968 |
| 2 | CIP 30.1701In Pennsylvania → | 185 | 16.3% | 8 | $36,206 | $29,240 |
| 3 | Social Sciences, Othermain feeder CIP 45.9999In Pennsylvania → | 161 | 14.2% | 13 | $36,279 | $25,312 |
| 4 | CIP 45.0101In Pennsylvania → | 102 | 9.0% | 13 | $35,590 | $24,095 |
| 5 | CIP 30.2301In Pennsylvania → | 67 | 5.9% | 11 | $25,750 | $18,622 |
| 6 | CIP 30.4401In Pennsylvania → | 58 | 5.1% | 2 | — | — |
| 7 | CIP 13.0603In Pennsylvania → | 49 | 4.3% | 3 | $33,086 | $26,000 |
| 8 | CIP 44.0503In Pennsylvania → | 45 | 4.0% | 4 | $44,740 | $22,000 |
| 9 | CIP 30.2101In Pennsylvania → | 39 | 3.4% | 3 | — | — |
| 10 | CIP 45.0102In Pennsylvania → | 38 | 3.3% | 4 | $35,590 | $24,095 |
| 11 | CIP 30.3401In Pennsylvania → | 23 | 2.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 12 | CIP 30.1101In Pennsylvania → | 22 | 1.9% | 3 | $37,623 | $25,986 |
| 13 | CIP 30.0501In Pennsylvania → | 21 | 1.8% | 5 | $40,929 | $25,000 |
| 14 | CIP 51.3204In Pennsylvania → | 19 | 1.7% | 4 | $99,851 | $21,475 |
| 15 | CIP 13.0699In Pennsylvania → | 18 | 1.6% | 1 | $33,086 | $26,000 |
| 16 | CIP 30.1001In Pennsylvania → | 14 | 1.2% | 5 | $43,343 | $22,125 |
| 17 | CIP 13.0601In Pennsylvania → | 13 | 1.1% | 3 | $33,086 | $26,000 |
| 18 | CIP 44.0502In Pennsylvania → | 9 | 0.8% | 1 | $44,740 | $22,000 |
| 19 | CIP 13.0607In Pennsylvania → | 8 | 0.7% | 2 | $33,086 | $26,000 |
| 20 | CIP 19.0702In Pennsylvania → | 6 | 0.5% | 1 | $31,642 | $23,092 |
| 21 | CIP 45.0199In Pennsylvania → | 5 | 0.4% | 1 | $35,590 | $24,095 |
| 22 | CIP 30.2601In Pennsylvania → | 2 | 0.2% | 1 | $21,458 | $21,125 |
| 23 | CIP 30.4601In Pennsylvania → | 2 | 0.2% | 1 | — | — |
| 24 | CIP 45.0501In Pennsylvania → | 2 | 0.2% | 1 | — | — |
| 25 | CIP 30.5101In Pennsylvania → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | — | — |
Top 25 schools in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 9 of the 56 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 199 | Behavioral Sciences | — | 97% | $22,055 | 5% |
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA Public · 8 feeder programs | 124 | Sustainability Studies | $40,485 | 85% | — | 58% |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · 7 feeder programs | 97 | Geography and Environmental Studies | — | 86% | — | 61% |
| 4 | Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, PA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 56 | Behavioral Sciences | — | 76% | $22,907 | 78% |
| 5 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · 6 feeder programs | 56 | Health Policy Analysis | — | 75% | — | 80% |
| 6 | International Institute for Restorative Practices Bethlehem, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 50 | Social Sciences, Other | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA Public · 2 feeder programs | 42 | Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies | — | 56% | — | 91% |
| 8 | Allegheny College Meadville, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 40 | Sustainability Studies | — | 73% | $18,524 | 55% |
| 9 | Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA Public · 2 feeder programs | 40 | Social Sciences, General | $27,600 | 21% | — | — |
| 10 | Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 32 | Behavioral Sciences | $38,391 | 84% | $27,178 | 28% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · 4 feeder programs | 30 | Social Sciences, General | $40,584 | 34% | — | 91% |
| 12 | Gratz College Jenkintown, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Holocaust and Related Studies | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 22 | Sustainability Studies | — | 94% | $23,803 | 12% |
| 14 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Social Sciences, Other | $42,844 | 58% | — | 86% |
| 15 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA Public · 5 feeder programs | 18 | Sustainability Studies | — | 71% | — | 78% |
| 16 | Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 17 | Sustainability Studies | $18,954 | 63% | $23,700 | 62% |
| 17 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 14 | Social Sciences, Other | — | 92% | $18,174 | 7% |
| 18 | Seton Hill University Greensburg, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 13 | Holocaust and Related Studies | — | 67% | $19,887 | 80% |
| 19 | Wilson College Chambersburg, PA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 12 | Learning Sciences | — | 48% | $18,586 | 92% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PA Public · 2 feeder programs | 11 | Social Sciences, Other | — | 52% | — | 94% |
| 21 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA Public · 3 feeder programs | 11 | Sustainability Studies | $25,169 | 66% | — | 71% |
| 22 | Villanova University Villanova, PA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 11 | Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | — | 92% | $33,774 | 27% |
| 23 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Social Sciences, Other | $45,140 | 54% | — | 93% |
| 24 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Social Sciences, General | — | 24% | — | — |
| 25 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Abington Abington, PA Public · 2 feeder programs | 10 | Medical/Health Humanities | — | 20% | — | 97% |
All 56 schools in Pennsylvania
Every school in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 199 | 8 |
| University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh | Public | 124 | 8 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus | University Park | Public | 97 | 7 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 56 | 2 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia | Public | 56 | 6 |
| International Institute for Restorative Practices | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 50 | 1 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Public | 42 | 2 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 40 | 1 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Public | 40 | 2 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 32 | 1 |
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus | University Park | Public | 30 | 4 |
| Gratz College | Jenkintown | Private not-for-profit | 24 | 1 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 22 | 3 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 21 | 1 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester | Public | 18 | 5 |
What social scientists and related workers, all other earn in Pennsylvania
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $101,110. Pennsylvania pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Pennsylvania
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 Scientists and Related Workers, All Other page.
How to become a Social Scientist
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 Pennsylvania
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 03.0209Energy and Environmental Policy
- 13.0601Educational Evaluation and Research
- 13.0603Educational Statistics and Research Methods
- 13.0604Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement
- 13.0607Learning Sciences
- 13.0699Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other
- 16.0199Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other
- 19.0702Adult Development and Aging
- 30.0501Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
- 30.1001Biopsychology
- 30.1101Gerontology
- 30.1701Behavioral Sciences
- 30.2101Holocaust and Related Studies
- 30.2301Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
- 30.2601Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
- 30.2701Human Biology
- 30.3301Sustainability Studies
- 30.3401Anthrozoology
- 30.4001Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
- 30.4201Geoarcheaology
- 30.4401Geography and Environmental Studies
- 30.4601History and Political Science
- 30.4701Linguistics and Anthropology
- 30.5101Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- 44.0502Education Policy Analysis
Common questions
Answers for people weighing social scientists and related workers, all other programs in Pennsylvania.
What degree do you need to become a Social Scientist?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Sustainability Studies, which awarded 227 degrees in Pennsylvania in 2024-25, 20.0% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Social Scientist?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 25 programs to this occupation. The largest are Sustainability Studies, Behavioral Sciences, Social Sciences, Social Sciences, plus 15 more. Together they graduate about 1,136 people a year in Pennsylvania.
How much do social scientists and related workers, all other earn in Pennsylvania?+
The median is $97,640 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 3.4% below the U.S. median of $101,110. 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 scientists and related workers, all other growing?+
BLS projects a -1.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 3,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Pennsylvania?+
56 institutions in Pennsylvania reported graduates from at least one of the 25 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 scientists and related workers, all other work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Planner, Program Officer, Transportation Planner, Transportation Data Programs Manager among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-3099.
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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