Best colleges for Social Sciences in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Washington State University and Central Washington University are the top bachelor's Social Sciences programs in Washington by graduate earnings. University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $57,538, College Scorecard. Washington State University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus and Central Washington University award the most Social Sciences degrees in Washington: 207, 60 and 46 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 3 Washington colleges offer Social Sciences and award 313 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 3 bachelor's programs, 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 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,538 | 60 | 85% | — | $20,559 |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,069 | 207 | 60% | — | $25,409 |
| 3 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,332 | 46 | 54% | — | $26,181 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Sciences degrees in Washington
Top 3 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 207 | $43,069 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 60 | $57,538 |
| 3 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 46 | $42,332 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061).
Top skills
What Social Science Research Assistants earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Sciences programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Social Sciences degrees?+
Washington State University (207 graduates a year), University of Washington-Seattle Campus (60 graduates a year) and Central Washington University (46 graduates a year) award the most Social Sciences degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 3 Washington colleges offer Social Sciences.
What is the best college for Social Sciences in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads among bachelor's Social Sciences programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $57,538, College Scorecard. Washington State University and Central Washington University follow. By degrees awarded, Washington State University is the largest, with 207 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Sciences program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Washington-Seattle Campus tops the list at $57,538. 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 Washington?+
The average annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in Washington is $56,120 (median $50,420), across about 450 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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