Best institutions to study Social Sciences
Compare 102 U.S. colleges offering Social Sciences by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 33 states.
Social Sciences programs report a median of $36,279 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), 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 23 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | 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 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,509 | 12 | 56% | — | — |
| 5 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,140 | 10 | 54% | — | $31,000 |
| 6 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,844 | 21 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Eastern Oregon University La Grande, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,347 | 31 | 43% | — | $29,750 |
| 8 | Benedictine University Lisle, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,023 | 2 | 50% | $23,570 | $32,824 |
| 9 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,934 | 21 | 76% | — | $17,833 |
| 10 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,919 | 7 | 56% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Rochester Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,491 | 31 | 85% | $25,874 | $21,366 |
| 12 | Towson University Towson, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,279 | 149 | 69% | — | $20,500 |
| 13 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,772 | 65 | 88% | $29,023 | $20,188 |
| 14 | Keystone College La Plume, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,568 | 4 | 36% | $23,598 | $27,000 |
| 15 | University of Southern Maine Portland, ME Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,418 | 65 | 40% | — | $24,825 |
| 16 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,845 | 80 | 96% | $15,315 | $26,000 |
| 17 | Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,993 | 18 | 79% | $26,585 | $27,000 |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,860 | 17 | 48% | — | $25,125 |
| 19 | Rose State College Midwest City, OK Public · Associate degree | $31,127 | 52 | 20% | — | $11,967 |
| 20 | University of Washington - Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,584 | 29 | 63% | — | $19,307 |
| 21 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,931 | 27 | 86% | — | $17,000 |
| 22 | Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,442 | 13 | 76% | $19,279 | $24,821 |
| 23 | Russell Sage College Troy, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,436 | 20 | 56% | $22,451 | $26,865 |
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.
Concentrations within Social Sciences
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Social Sciences, OtherCIP 45.9999
Any instructional program in social sciences not listed above.
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 of $36,279 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); 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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