Rankings / Bachelors
Best Bachelor's in Social Sciences
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Choosing a social sciences program can shape a student's career path and long-term earning potential. The schools on this list have demonstrated strong outcomes, with average earnings of $88,369 for graduates and a high graduation rate of 93%. For anyone considering a degree in this field, understanding these metrics can help clarify the best options available.
What sets these programs apart are critical factors like graduation rates, average earnings, and student debt. For instance, schools with high graduation rates often correlate with better post-graduation earnings and lower debt burdens. The data below highlights how these institutions fare in terms of earnings, mobility, and net price, allowing families to make informed decisions based on outcomes that truly matter.
Take Princeton University and Vanderbilt University, for example. Princeton graduates earn an impressive $110,066 on average, with only $10,320 in debt and a graduation rate of 97%. In contrast, Vanderbilt graduates earn $91,565, with a graduation rate of 93% and $14,000 in debt. This contrast illustrates the trade-offs between potential earnings and financial obligations and underscores why we should carefully consider all aspects of a program before deciding.
Key Findings
Princeton University graduates earn an average of $110,066, the highest in this ranking.
Vanderbilt University has a graduation rate of 93% but higher debt at $14,000.
The average graduate earns $88,369 across all programs listed.
Stanford University, despite a lower graduation rate of 92%, boasts the highest earnings at $124,080.
Quick Numbers
How We Ranked
Bachelor's programs ranked by outcomes, mobility, and program concentration in Social Sciences
Read our full methodology →Earnings vs. Cost
Each dot is a ranked school. Up = higher earnings. Right = higher cost. Top-left is the best value.
Graduation Rates
Longer bars = higher graduation rate.
Top 3
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
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Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
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Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
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Full Rankings
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · 7,569 students · Private nonprofit
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · 5,709 students · Private nonprofit
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · 7,601 students · Private nonprofit
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · 7,208 students · Private nonprofit
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · 7,554 students · Private nonprofit
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · 1,873 students · Private nonprofit
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · 1,388 students · Private nonprofit
Brown University
Providence, RI · 7,226 students · Private nonprofit
Colby College
Waterville, ME · 2,407 students · Private nonprofit
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH · 4,541 students · Private nonprofit
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · 2,300 students · Private nonprofit
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · 3,180 students · Private nonprofit
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · 2,076 students · Private nonprofit
Georgetown University
Washington, DC · 7,569 students · Private nonprofit
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · 1,867 students · Private nonprofit
Yale University
New Haven, CT · 6,758 students · Private nonprofit
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · 8,973 students · Private nonprofit
Bates College
Lewiston, ME · 1,760 students · Private nonprofit
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · 2,757 students · Private nonprofit
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT · 2,738 students · Private nonprofit
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · 1,911 students · Private nonprofit
Barnard College
New York, NY · 3,264 students · Private nonprofit
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · 1,613 students · Private nonprofit
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · 2,030 students · Private nonprofit
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · 1,430 students · Private nonprofit
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · 1,666 students · Private nonprofit
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · 1,729 students · Private nonprofit
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · 5,693 students · Private nonprofit
Duke University
Durham, NC · 6,442 students · Private nonprofit
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT · 3,067 students · Private nonprofit
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · 20,752 students · Public
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · 10,650 students · Private nonprofit
George Washington University
Washington, DC · 11,182 students · Private nonprofit
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · 3,106 students · Private nonprofit
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · 7,055 students · Public
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO · 2,014 students · Private nonprofit
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · 9,201 students · Private nonprofit
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · 15,995 students · Private nonprofit
Rice University
Houston, TX · 4,776 students · Private nonprofit
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise, VA · 1,101 students · Public
Carleton College
Northfield, MN · 2,086 students · Private nonprofit
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · 1,527 students · Public
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · 1,881 students · Private nonprofit
Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, MO · 7,857 students · Private nonprofit
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY · 12,550 students · Public
Tufts University
Medford, MA · 7,061 students · Private nonprofit
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · 10,085 students · Private nonprofit
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · 35,629 students · Public
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · 5,485 students · Private nonprofit
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · 16,289 students · Public
The data reveals that Princeton University outperforms Vanderbilt University significantly in earnings and debt levels. With an average earning of $110,066, Princeton graduates face only $10,320 in debt, while Vanderbilt graduates earn $91,565 with a debt of $14,000. This stark difference underscores the importance of evaluating not just the reputation of a school but also its financial implications on students' futures.
For students and families reviewing the 50 schools on this list, it's essential to weigh these outcomes against personal priorities. Consider factors like location, program fit, and campus culture alongside financial metrics. Does a higher debt load feel manageable in light of potential earnings? Are you drawn to a particular school's atmosphere or support systems? Understanding your own values will help you navigate these choices.
Ultimately, this data highlights the critical role that college selection plays in shaping a stable future. With the right program, students can transition to a fulfilling career with manageable debt. Each decision made today can significantly influence one family's financial health down the road. Careful consideration now can lead to a more secure tomorrow.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Sources & Citations
David Krug
Co-Founder, CollegeRanker
David Krug is the co-founder of CollegeRanker and a data systems architect focused on making institutional research accessible to families. He builds the data pipelines and ranking algorithms that power CollegeRanker, drawing from federal datasets and Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights research to measure what traditional rankings ignore: whether a college actually changes a family's economic trajectory.
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