Best colleges for Social Sciences in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Tidewater Community College, Virginia Peninsula Community College and Northern Virginia Community College are the top Social Sciences programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Tidewater Community College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,425, College Scorecard. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Northern Virginia Community College and Tidewater Community College award the most Social Sciences degrees and certificates in Virginia: 326, 260 and 151 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 Virginia colleges offer Social Sciences and award 1,059 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 6 institutions, 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 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public · Associate degree | $29,425 | 151 | 32% | — | $11,000 |
| 2 | Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton Public · Associate degree | $25,478 | 146 | 34% | — | $10,500 |
| 3 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public · Associate degree | $23,637 | 260 | 33% | — | $10,500 |
| 4 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public · Associate degree | $19,220 | 56 | 40% | — | $9,128 |
| 5 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public · Associate degree | $18,164 | 326 | 32% | — | $12,500 |
| 6 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,988 | 2 | 65% | $28,911 | $23,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Sciences degrees in Virginia
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public | 326 | $18,164 |
| 2 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public | 260 | $23,637 |
| 3 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public | 151 | $29,425 |
| 4 | Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton Public | 146 | $25,478 |
| 5 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public | 56 | $19,220 |
| 6 | University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise Public | 54 | Not reported |
| 7 | Southwest Virginia Community College Cedar Bluff Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | Radford University Radford Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 9 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge Public | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 7 Virginia colleges offering Social Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick & Henry Community College | Martinsville | Public | 6 |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Middletown | Public | 5 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 5 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | Public | 4 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061).
Top skills
What Social Science Research Assistants earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Sciences programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Social Sciences degrees?+
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College (326 graduates a year), Northern Virginia Community College (260 graduates a year) and Tidewater Community College (151 graduates a year) award the most Social Sciences degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 Virginia colleges offer Social Sciences.
What is the best college for Social Sciences in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Tidewater Community College leads among Social Sciences programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,425, College Scorecard. Virginia Peninsula Community College and Northern Virginia Community College follow. By degrees awarded, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is the largest, with 326 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Sciences program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Tidewater Community College tops the list at $29,425. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in Virginia is $59,810 (median $53,260), across about 700 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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