Best colleges for Social Sciences
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Social Sciences by graduate earnings are University of California-Berkeley ($61,109), Rutgers University - New Brunswick ($51,753) and Boston University ($48,243), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA): $61,109, 225 graduates a year
- Rutgers University - New Brunswick (New Brunswick, NJ): $51,753, 29 graduates a year
- Boston University (Boston, MA): $48,243, 62 graduates a year
- Millersville University of Pennsylvania (Millersville, PA): $42,844, 21 graduates a year
- Eastern Oregon University (La Grande, OR): $42,347, 31 graduates a year
Compare 102 U.S. colleges offering Social Sciences by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 33 states.
Social Sciences programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,279 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 45.99 and the Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC).
About Social Sciences programs
The Social Sciences program, officially titled 'Social Sciences, Other', focuses on the study of human behavior within social and cultural contexts. This interdisciplinary field encompasses various branches that analyze how individuals and groups interact, make decisions, and influence societal structures. It is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of human relationships and societal dynamics.
In this program, students engage with core concepts related to social behavior, cultural influences, and societal trends. Coursework typically includes research methods, statistical analysis, and theoretical frameworks that help students comprehend and analyze social phenomena.
Top 22 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $61,109 | 225 | 93% | — | $15,000 |
| 2 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,753 | 29 | 84% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,243 | 62 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 4 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,844 | 21 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Eastern Oregon University La Grande, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,347 | 31 | 43% | — | $29,750 |
| 6 | University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,934 | 21 | 76% | — | $17,833 |
| 7 | University of Rochester Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,491 | 31 | 85% | $25,874 | $21,366 |
| 8 | Towson University Towson, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,279 | 149 | 69% | — | $20,500 |
| 9 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,772 | 65 | 88% | $29,023 | $20,188 |
| 10 | University of Southern Maine Portland, ME Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,418 | 65 | 40% | — | $24,825 |
| 11 | Columbia University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,845 | 80 | 96% | $15,315 | $26,000 |
| 12 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,584 | 29 | 63% | — | $19,307 |
| 13 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,931 | 27 | 86% | — | $17,000 |
| 14 | Russell Sage College Troy, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,436 | 20 | 56% | $22,451 | $26,865 |
| 15 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,509 | 12 | 56% | — | — |
| 16 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,140 | 10 | 54% | — | $31,000 |
| 17 | Benedictine University Lisle, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,023 | 2 | 50% | $23,570 | $32,824 |
| 18 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,919 | 7 | 56% | — | — |
| 19 | Keystone College La Plume, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,568 | 4 | 36% | $23,598 | $27,000 |
| 20 | Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,993 | 18 | 79% | $26,585 | $27,000 |
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, WI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,860 | 17 | 48% | — | $25,125 |
| 22 | Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,442 | 13 | 76% | $19,279 | $24,821 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose State College Midwest City, OK Public · Associate degree | $31,127 | 52 | 20% | — | $11,967 |
Specializations within Social Sciences
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 45.99 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 33 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3099, Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Social Sciences program often pursue careers in various fields, although the job outlook indicates a slight decline at -1.7%. There are approximately 3,200 annual openings, with a median wage of $100,340 for positions requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Social Sciences
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 45.99.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 45.99 (Social Sciences, Other) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 19-3099 | Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Otherprimary |
| 25-1069 | Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Social Sciences program?+
The program focuses on understanding human behavior in social and cultural contexts.
What kind of coursework can I expect?+
Students can expect coursework in research methods, statistical analysis, and theoretical frameworks.
What is the job outlook for Social Sciences graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of -1.7%, with about 3,200 annual openings.
What is the median wage for careers in this field?+
The median wage for positions in the Social Sciences field is $100,340.
How much do Social Sciences graduates earn?+
Social Sciences graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,279, College Scorecard (2019); the Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other occupation pays about $107,690 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Social Sciences?+
Social Sciences maps to CIP 45.99 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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