Best Schools for Social Sciences, General

Social Sciences, General graduates earn a median of $34,273 within two years of graduation, ranking #169 out of 283 tracked majors — 5% below the median across all fields. There are 83 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 4,859 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Manhattan University graduates earn $64,493 while University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez graduates earn $10,185 — a $54,308 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Social Sciences, General graduates see an average 6% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

83
Schools
$34,273
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#169
of 283 Majors
4,859
Graduates

Public vs Private: Social Sciences, General

Public (60 schools)
$33,038
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (23 schools)
$36,969
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $3,931 more in early earnings on average for Social Sciences, General graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Social Sciences, General by State

Top Social Sciences, General Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
M

Manhattan University

Riverdale, NY · Private

$64,493
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,290
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 78.5%
#2
V

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private

$56,544
2yr Earnings
1yr: $56,276
Grads: 118
Acceptance: 6.3%
#3
U

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$53,358
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,335
Grads: 102
Acceptance: 42.5%
#4
H

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,926
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 3.5%
#5
N

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$49,019
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,666
Grads: 80
Acceptance: 9.4%
#6
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,365
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 10.0%
#7
T

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 84.8%
#8
B

Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public

$42,044
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 71.6%
#9
U

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Platteville, WI · Public

$41,193
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 87.3%
#10
U

University of Massachusetts Global

Aliso Viejo, CA · Public

$41,193
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,726
Grads: 26
Acceptance: N/A
#11
C

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public

$40,580
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,440
Grads: 123
Acceptance: 90.2%
#12
C

Colorado State University Global

Denver, CO · Public

$40,527
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,667
Grads: 73
Acceptance: 92.9%
#13
C

Campbell University

Buies Creek, NC · Private

$39,729
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,363
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 94.3%
#14
W

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

$39,301
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,484
Grads: 393
Acceptance: 85.4%
#15
U

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$39,153
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,523
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 72.5%
#16
U

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA · Private

$39,009
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,440
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 93.4%
#17
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,674
Grads: 213
Acceptance: 83.9%
#18
C

Caldwell University

Caldwell, NJ · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 65.4%
#19
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$37,748
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,259
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 93.6%
#20
A

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 90.2%
#21
F

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 73.4%
#22
K

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, PA · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 94.8%
#23
U

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Stevens Point, WI · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,471
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 90.1%
#24
U

University of Minnesota-Morris

Morris, MN · Public

$36,668
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 70.5%
#25
F

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$36,423
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,112
Grads: 335
Acceptance: 25.4%
#26
T

Troy University

Troy, AL · Public

$36,041
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,866
Grads: 35
Acceptance: 92.6%
#27
S

St. Joseph's University-New York

Brooklyn, NY · Private

$35,954
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,729
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 71.4%
#28
M

Mercy University

Dobbs Ferry, NY · Private

$35,952
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,285
Grads: 66
Acceptance: 85.5%
#29
G

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public

$35,487
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,437
Grads: 82
Acceptance: 94.7%
#30
U

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO · Public

$35,330
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 86.4%
#31
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,400
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 25.6%
#32
S

St. Thomas Aquinas College

Sparkill, NY · Private

$34,704
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 82.2%
#33
U

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · Public

$34,704
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,960
Grads: 321
Acceptance: 85.1%
#34
C

California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public

$34,603
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,594
Grads: 72
Acceptance: 94.8%
#35
C

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,643
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 98.3%
#36
S

Southern Connecticut State University

New Haven, CT · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,535
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 81.1%
#37
S

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, OR · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,221
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 82.7%
#38
U

University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, TX · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,763
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 90.6%
#39
W

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public

$33,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,785
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 97.0%
#40
M

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN · Public

$33,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,910
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 96.5%
#41
S

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH · Private

$33,281
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,311
Grads: 59
Acceptance: 96.1%
#42
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$33,192
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,584
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 93.7%
#43
C

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,464
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 97.5%
#44
T

Touro University

New York, NY · Private

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,084
Grads: 37
Acceptance: 63.0%
#45
T

Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA · Private

$32,569
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,203
Grads: 30
Acceptance: 14.6%
#46
U

University of West Florida

Pensacola, FL · Public

$32,439
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,328
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 56.9%
#47
L

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA · Private

$32,382
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 99.3%
#48
P

Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public

$32,252
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,905
Grads: 228
Acceptance: 90.9%
#49
U

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL · Public

$32,148
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,797
Grads: 160
Acceptance: 41.0%
#50
D

Dominican University New York

Orangeburg, NY · Private

$32,071
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,622
Grads: 52
Acceptance: 78.8%

Showing top 50 of 83 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Social Sciences, General?
Manhattan University ranks #1 for Social Sciences, General with median graduate earnings of $64,493 within two years. There are 83 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Social Sciences, General graduates earn?
Social Sciences, General graduates earn an average of $34,273 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $10,185 to $64,493 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Social Sciences, General program?
The average acceptance rate across Social Sciences, General programs is 75.4%. The most selective program is at Harvard University with a 3.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Social Sciences, General?
Private Social Sciences, General programs average $36,969 in early earnings vs $33,038 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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