6,806
Graduates Per Year
$41K
Average Salary
#68
Most Popular Major
Degree Stats
Popular
6,806
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
343
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
67
Information Technology Administration and Management
7,229
68
Social Sciences
6,806
69
Animal Sciences
6,605
Most Widely Offered Degrees
35
/
1.852
Worse
Better
Top 100 Colleges offering this degree
Degree Granting Schools that are Public
Most Graduates
By Region
Far West
University of Oregon
By State
New York
Bard College
By Conference
Pacific-12 Conference
University of Oregon
By School
Arizona Western College
If you think life as a social services specialist, policy advisor, or digital court reporter sounds interesting, then a degree in social sciences may just be for you. You could even become the best boss that company has ever seen!
Social sciences is the 68th most popular degree in America, with 6,806 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #69 Animal Sciences, and narrowly lost to #67 Information Technology Administration and Management
The degree is offered at a total of 343 colleges across the nation, and is the 66th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 18% of the Top 100 Best Collegesin America.
It is also worth noting that 64% of colleges offering social sciences are public making it a quite accessible field.
The far west produces the most social sciences graduates, largely led by University of Oregon, while it’s the Pacific-12 Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, New York ranks highest, with particular help from Bard Collegeand Mercy College.
All that being said, no individual school produces more social sciences graduates than Arizona Western College, which graduated 391 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study social sciences). More students studied social sciences as a percentage of total students at Bard Collegethan any other college.
We wish you luck on your college search and we hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Social Sciences list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
Good luck on your college search. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Social Sciences list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
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#1 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Harvard University is a very large private university located in Cambridge, MA ranked 3rdin the United States. It has a total of 14,467 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, with a 4.64% acceptance rate. Harvard University offers 375 different majors and is best known for its history, social sciences, and natural sciences programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $47,730 per year, Harvard University is exceptionally high-priced. 77.7% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $89,700 per year, which is 116% greater than the national median.
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Cambridge, MA
www.harvard.edu
A+
Rating
5%
Acceptance
41,987
Students
# 3
Ranking
$47,730
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Vanderbilt University is a large private university located in Nashville, TN ranked 17thin the US. It has a total of 6,974 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 9.12% of applicants. Vanderbilt University offers 245 different majors and is best known for its teacher education and professional development, secondary education and teaching, and social sciences programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $50,800 per year, Vanderbilt University is exceptionally pricey. 86.73% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $69,000 per year, which is 66% over the national median.
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Nashville, TN
www.vanderbilt.edu
A+
Rating
9%
Acceptance
13,634
Students
# 17
Ranking
$50,800
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Bard College is a small private liberal arts college located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY ranked 296thin the US. It has a total of 2,096 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 64.76% acceptance rate. Bard College offers 17 different majors and is best known for its social sciences, biological and physical sciences, and fine art programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 5th, and 36th respectively). With a tuition cost of $55,566 per year, Bard College is exceptionally expensive. 69.35% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $39,700 per year, which is 4% less than the national median.
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Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
www.bard.edu
A-
Rating
65%
Acceptance
2,542
Students
# 211
Ranking
$55,566
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University at Buffalo is a very large public university located in Buffalo, NY ranked 215thin the United States. It has a total of 24,330 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting close to three fifths of applicants. University at Buffalo offers 465 different majors and is best known for its occupational therapy, pharmacology and toxicology, and social sciences programs (nationally ranked 1st, 3rd, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $7,070 for in-state students and $24,740 for those from out-of-state, University at Buffalo is somewhat moderately expensive. 65.04% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $52,600 per year, which is 27% over the national median.
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Buffalo, NY
www.buffalo.edu
A
Rating
61%
Acceptance
35,111
Students
# 57
Ranking
$24,740
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of Oregon is a very large public university located in Eugene, OR ranked 6thin Oregon. It has a total of 20,912 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 81.8% of applicants. University of Oregon offers 224 different majors and is best known for its public relations advertising and applied communication, physiology, and multimedia art programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With a tuition cost of $10,440 for in-state students and $34,335 for those from out-of-state, University of Oregon is reasonably high-priced. 65.06% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $44,800 per year, which is 8% over the national median.
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Eugene, OR
https://www.uoregon.edu
B+
Rating
82%
Acceptance
25,203
Students
# 101
Ranking
$34,335
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Florida State University is a very large public university located in Tallahassee, FL ranked 148thin the United States. It has a total of 36,720 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting 35.97% of applicants. Florida State University offers 272 different majors and is best known for its english language and literature, real estate, and insurance programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,022 for in-state students and $16,540 for those from out-of-state, Florida State University is reasonably priced. 73.69% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $46,400 per year, which is 12% above the national median.
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Tallahassee, FL
www.fsu.edu
A
Rating
36%
Acceptance
46,825
Students
# 32
Ranking
$16,540
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Washington State University is a very large public university located in Pullman, WA ranked 9thin Washington. It has a total of 28,966 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 75.8% acceptance rate. Washington State University offers 407 different majors and is best known for its social sciences, operations management and supervision, and agronomy and crop science programs (nationally ranked 7th, 8th, and 8th respectively). With a tuition cost of $9,953 for students from Washington and $24,531 for those from out-of-state, Washington State University is somewhat moderately high-priced. 60.38% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $50,600 per year, which is 22% over the national median.
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Pullman, WA
wsu.edu/
B+
Rating
76%
Acceptance
35,149
Students
# 120
Ranking
$24,531
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
New York University is a very large private university located in New York, NY ranked 25thin the nation. It has a total of 29,902 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting more or less 1 in 6 applicants. New York University offers 564 different majors and is best known for its drama, radio television and digital communication, and management information systems programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $50,684 per year, New York University is very pricey. 73.93% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $61,900 per year, which is 49% greater than the national median.
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New York, NY
www.nyu.edu
A+
Rating
16%
Acceptance
58,091
Students
# 25
Ranking
$50,684
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of Southern California is a very large private university located in Los Angeles, CA ranked 24thin the nation. It has a total of 21,909 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, with a 11.42% acceptance rate. University of Southern California offers 527 different majors and is best known for its communication and media studies, film, and gerontology programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $57,256 per year, University of Southern California is extremely costly. 87.78% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $74,000 per year, which is 78% over the national median.
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Los Angeles, CA
www.usc.edu/
A+
Rating
11%
Acceptance
53,186
Students
# 24
Ranking
$57,256
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a very large public university located in Ann Arbor, MI ranked 37thin the US. It has a total of 31,206 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 22.91% of applicants. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers 433 different majors and is best known for its experimental psychology, data modeling and database administration, and german language and literature programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $15,230 for students from Michigan and $50,872 for those from out-of-state, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is extremely expensive. 86.28% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $63,400 per year, which is 53% above the national median.
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Ann Arbor, MI
https://umich.edu/
A+
Rating
23%
Acceptance
48,218
Students
# 2
Ranking
$50,872
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Michigan State University is a very large public university located in East Lansing, MI ranked 163rdin the United States. It has a total of 42,492 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 71.12% acceptance rate. Michigan State University offers 384 different majors and is best known for its logistics materials and supply chain management, pre law studies, and soil sciences programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $14,460 for students from Michigan and $39,766 for those from out-of-state, Michigan State University is quite pricey. 76.24% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $53,600 per year, which is 29% above the national median.
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East Lansing, MI
https://www.msu.edu
A
Rating
71%
Acceptance
55,332
Students
# 41
Ranking
$39,766
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a very large public university located in Seattle, WA ranked 110thin the United States. It has a total of 39,443 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 51.76% of applicants. University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers 687 different majors and is best known for its informatics, environmental science, and physician assistant studies programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With a tuition cost of $10,370 for in-state students and $37,071 for those from out-of-state, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is rather high-priced. 77.21% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $57,700 per year, which is 39% greater than the national median.
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Seattle, WA
www.washington.edu
A
Rating
52%
Acceptance
56,315
Students
# 15
Ranking
$37,071
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Tulane University of Louisiana is a large private university located in New Orleans, LA ranked 82ndin the nation. It has a total of 9,125 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, with a 12.87% acceptance rate. Tulane University of Louisiana offers 261 different majors and is best known for its preschool education and teaching, legal support services, and computer programming programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $52,760 per year, Tulane University of Louisiana is exceptionally high-priced. 59.85% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $61,700 per year, which is 49% over the national median.
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New Orleans, LA
tulane.edu
A+
Rating
13%
Acceptance
14,768
Students
# 72
Ranking
$52,760
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Denison University is a small private liberal arts college located in Granville, OH ranked 85thin the United States. It has a total of 2,422 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 29.39% of applicants. Denison University offers 46 different majors and is best known for its theatre design and technology, international business, and writing programs (nationally ranked 6th, 10th, and 11th respectively). With a tuition cost of $52,620 per year, Denison University is exceptionally high-priced. 84.71% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $48,800 per year, which is 17% above the national median.
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Granville, OH
https://www.denison.edu
A+
Rating
29%
Acceptance
2,422
Students
# 75
Ranking
$52,620
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Union College is a small private liberal arts college located in Schenectady, NY ranked 104thin the US. It has a total of 2,220 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 42.92% of applicants. Union College offers 47 different majors and is best known for its social sciences, managerial economics, and liberal arts and sciences programs (nationally ranked 15th, 17th, and 22nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $56,853 per year, Union College is very expensive. 83.09% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $65,400 per year, which is 57% over the national median.
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Schenectady, NY
www.union.edu/
A
Rating
43%
Acceptance
2,220
Students
# 91
Ranking
$56,853
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
San Diego State University is a very large public university located in San Diego, CA ranked 168thin America. It has a total of 32,543 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting approximately one in three applicants. San Diego State University offers 232 different majors and is best known for its speech language pathology, gerontology, and health and fitness programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 4th, and 5th respectively). With a tuition cost of $5,742 for students from California and $17,622 for those from out-of-state, San Diego State University is reasonably priced. 72.69% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $51,000 per year, which is 23% over the national median.
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San Diego, CA
www.sdsu.edu
A
Rating
34%
Acceptance
37,838
Students
# 43
Ranking
$17,622
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Ramapo College of New Jersey is a mid-sized public college located in Mahwah, NJ ranked 9thin New Jersey. It has a total of 6,256 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 65.58% of applicants. Ramapo College of New Jersey offers 60 different majors and is best known for its multimedia art, social sciences, and legal studies programs (nationally ranked 5th, 17th, and 19th respectively). With a tuition cost of $12,171 for students from New Jersey and $21,722 for those from out-of-state, Ramapo College of New Jersey is somewhat moderately expensive. 66.75% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $53,200 per year, which is 28% greater than the national median.
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Mahwah, NJ
www.ramapo.edu
B+
Rating
66%
Acceptance
6,982
Students
# 100
Ranking
$21,722
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of South Florida-Main Campus is a very large public university located in Tampa, FL ranked 216thin the nation. It has a total of 37,780 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 47.63% of applicants. University of South Florida-Main Campus offers 238 different majors and is best known for its audiology, social science teacher education, and criminology programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,559 for in-state students and $15,473 for those from out-of-state, University of South Florida-Main Campus is reasonably priced. 65.22% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $43,500 per year, which is 5% greater than the national median.
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Tampa, FL
www.usf.edu
A
Rating
48%
Acceptance
51,808
Students
# 58
Ranking
$15,473
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of California-Irvine is a very large public university located in Irvine, CA ranked 116thin the nation. It has a total of 31,386 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 26.54% of applicants. University of California-Irvine offers 291 different majors and is best known for its managerial economics, social psychology, and criminology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $11,442 for in-state students and $41,196 for those from out-of-state, University of California-Irvine is quite expensive. 46.45% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $58,400 per year, which is 41% greater than the national median.
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Irvine, CA
www.uci.edu/
A
Rating
27%
Acceptance
38,105
Students
# 20
Ranking
$41,196
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Providence College is a small private college located in Providence, RI ranked 120thin America. It has a total of 4,604 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 47.46% of applicants. Providence College offers 110 different majors and is best known for its community organization and advocacy, special education and teaching, and marketing programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 5th, and 11th respectively). With a tuition cost of $51,490 per year, Providence College is extremely pricey. 76.96% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $64,100 per year, which is 54% greater than the national median.
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Providence, RI
www.providence.edu
A
Rating
47%
Acceptance
5,310
Students
# 99
Ranking
$51,490
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee is a small public university located in Sarasota, FL ranked 182ndin the United States. It has a total of 2,314 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 23.61% of applicants. University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee offers 27 different majors and is best known for its professional technical business and scientific writing, hospitality management, and communication sciences and disorders programs (nationally ranked 5th, 13th, and 18th respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,206 for students from Florida and $15,120 for those from out-of-state, University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee is reasonably priced. 65.22% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $43,500 per year, which is 5% over the national median.
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Sarasota, FL
usfsm.edu/
A
Rating
24%
Acceptance
2,505
Students
# 48
Ranking
$15,120
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of Utah is a very large public university located in Salt Lake City, UT ranked 263rdin the US. It has a total of 29,554 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 62.12% of applicants. University of Utah offers 384 different majors and is best known for its dance, family and consumer economics, and recreational therapy programs (nationally ranked 6th, 10th, and 10th respectively). With a tuition cost of $7,412 for students from Utah and $26,017 for those from out-of-state, University of Utah is reasonably expensive. 56.98% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $53,000 per year, which is 28% above the national median.
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Salt Lake City, UT
www.utah.edu
A-
Rating
62%
Acceptance
38,652
Students
# 71
Ranking
$26,017
Tuition
#23 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university located in Pittsburgh, PA ranked 157thin the United States. It has a total of 20,856 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 56.65% of applicants. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus offers 422 different majors and is best known for its rhetoric and composition, bioinformatics, and biological and physical sciences programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $18,628 for students from Pennsylvania and $32,656 for those from out-of-state, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is somewhat moderately expensive. 67.18% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $53,900 per year, which is 30% above the national median.
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Pittsburgh, PA
www.pitt.edu
A
Rating
57%
Acceptance
31,667
Students
# 37
Ranking
$32,656
Tuition
#24 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
University of Central Florida is a very large public university located in Orlando, FL ranked 195thin the nation. It has a total of 68,412 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting virtually three sevenths of applicants. University of Central Florida offers 195 different majors and is best known for its hospitality management, interdisciplinary studies, and physical education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $4,478 for students from Florida and $19,810 for those from out-of-state, University of Central Florida is reasonably priced. 66.14% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, entering the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $45,400 per year, which is 9% greater than the national median.
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Orlando, FL
www.ucf.edu/
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
80,378
Students
# 52
Ranking
$19,810
Tuition
#25 Best Colleges for Social Sciences
Whittier College is a small private liberal arts college located in Whittier, CA ranked 38thin California. It has a total of 1,766 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 57.11% of applicants. Whittier College offers 34 different majors and is best known for its child development, social sciences, and kinesiology and exercise science programs (nationally ranked 7th, 25th, and 46th respectively). With a tuition cost of $48,924 per year, Whittier College is extremely expensive. 68.68% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $46,800 per year, which is 13% over the national median.
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Whittier, CA
www.whittier.edu
A-
Rating
57%
Acceptance
1,974
Students
# 217
Ranking
$48,924
Tuition