Best Schools for Social Sciences, Other

Social Sciences, Other graduates earn a median of $56,812 within four years of graduating, ranking #159 out of 283 tracked majors — 9% below the median across all fields. There are 49 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 1,593 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of California-Berkeley graduates earn $101,138 while SUNY at Purchase College graduates earn $36,895 — a $64,243 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Social Sciences, Other graduates see an average 5% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

49
Schools
$56,812
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#159
of 283 Majors
1,593
Graduates

Public vs Private: Social Sciences, Other

Public (28 schools)
$55,956
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (21 schools)
$58,682
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $2,726 more in early earnings on average for Social Sciences, Other graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Social Sciences, Other by State

Top Social Sciences, Other Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$101,138
4yr Earnings
153 grads
2yr: $61,380 (134)
1yr: $55,102 (174)
Acceptance: 11.7%
#2
Rutgers University-New Brunswick logo

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

$80,700
4yr Earnings
43 grads
2yr: $52,107 (16)
1yr: $40,085 (61)
Acceptance: 65.3%
#3
New York University logo

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$74,983
4yr Earnings
54 grads
2yr: $49,436 (13)
1yr: $37,265 (29)
Acceptance: 9.4%
#4
CUNY Graduate School and University Center logo

CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York, NY · Public

$69,996
4yr Earnings
23 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 38.6%
#5
University of California-Davis logo

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$68,535
4yr Earnings
38 grads
2yr: $37,208 (34)
Acceptance: 41.6%
#6
University of Rochester logo

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY · Private

$68,333
4yr Earnings
27 grads · small sample
2yr: $27,048 (17)
1yr: $33,895 (30)
Acceptance: 35.9%
#7
Loyola University Maryland logo

Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, MD · Private

$67,373
4yr Earnings
40 grads
2yr: $38,289 (44)
1yr: $35,867 (36)
Acceptance: 76.3%
#8
University of Rhode Island logo

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public

$66,738
4yr Earnings
81 grads
2yr: $32,854 (75)
1yr: $33,460 (82)
Acceptance: 77.1%
#9
Columbia University in the City of New York logo

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

$65,085
4yr Earnings
42 grads
1yr: $44,253 (27)
Acceptance: 4.2%
#10
Towson University logo

Towson University

Towson, MD · Public

$62,559
4yr Earnings
268 grads
2yr: $37,018 (246)
1yr: $35,059 (246)
Acceptance: 82.8%
#11
St Lawrence University logo

St Lawrence University

Canton, NY · Private

$60,518
4yr Earnings
41 grads
2yr: $33,459 (44)
1yr: $32,938 (40)
Acceptance: 58.5%
#12
Kalamazoo College logo

Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo, MI · Private

$59,193
4yr Earnings
28 grads · small sample
2yr: $31,038 (23)
1yr: $27,345 (35)
Acceptance: 76.2%
#13
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo logo

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$57,360
4yr Earnings
31 grads
2yr: $28,236 (24)
1yr: $31,667 (25)
Acceptance: 29.8%
#14
University of Washington-Seattle Campus logo

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$56,628
4yr Earnings
48 grads
2yr: $36,560 (75)
1yr: $31,911 (51)
Acceptance: 42.5%
#15
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus logo

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tacoma, WA · Public

$56,628
4yr Earnings
48 grads
2yr: $36,560 (75)
1yr: $31,911 (51)
Acceptance: 83.0%
#16
SUNY Old Westbury logo

SUNY Old Westbury

Old Westbury, NY · Public

$56,609
4yr Earnings
92 grads
2yr: $38,505 (65)
1yr: $38,225 (98)
Acceptance: 84.6%
#17
University of California-Riverside logo

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$55,087
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
2yr: $35,864 (65)
1yr: $31,712 (29)
Acceptance: 63.3%
#18
Central Michigan University logo

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI · Public

$54,888
4yr Earnings
99 grads
2yr: $36,099 (93)
1yr: $32,349 (93)
Acceptance: 91.0%
#19
Russell Sage College logo

Russell Sage College

Troy, NY · Private

$54,363
4yr Earnings
34 grads
2yr: $35,060 (41)
1yr: $35,123 (43)
Acceptance: 76.2%
#20
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice logo

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York, NY · Public

$54,259
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
2yr: $39,153 (54)
1yr: $37,626 (25)
Acceptance: 57.2%
#21
Millersville University of Pennsylvania logo

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, PA · Public

$54,086
4yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
2yr: $29,685 (27)
1yr: $27,983 (24)
Acceptance: 89.4%
#22
Lake Forest College logo

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL · Private

$53,438
4yr Earnings
35 grads
2yr: $22,087 (13)
1yr: $29,103 (34)
Acceptance: 59.4%
#23
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay logo

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Green Bay, WI · Public

$50,738
4yr Earnings
27 grads · small sample
2yr: $28,236 (32)
Acceptance: 87.8%
#24
Benedictine University logo

Benedictine University

Lisle, IL · Private

$50,054
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $35,420 (14)
1yr: $33,580 (24)
Acceptance: 77.2%
#25
Eastern Oregon University logo

Eastern Oregon University

La Grande, OR · Public

$49,611
4yr Earnings
21 grads · small sample
2yr: $33,281 (38)
1yr: $27,260 (30)
Acceptance: 98.8%
#26
University of Alabama at Birmingham logo

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL · Public

$47,004
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
2yr: $21,234 (17)
1yr: $28,052 (20)
Acceptance: 88.4%
#27
SUNY Polytechnic Institute logo

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY · Public

$46,521
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $32,711 (22)
1yr: $23,434 (21)
Acceptance: 78.4%
#28
Keystone College logo

Keystone College

La Plume, PA · Private

$46,452
4yr Earnings
23 grads · small sample
2yr: $32,711 (16)
Acceptance: 79.6%
#29
Clark University logo

Clark University

Worcester, MA · Private

$45,710
4yr Earnings
30 grads · small sample
2yr: $36,848 (15)
Acceptance: 41.7%
#30
University of Southern Maine logo

University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME · Public

$45,523
4yr Earnings
71 grads
2yr: $28,236 (34)
1yr: $31,702 (60)
Acceptance: 79.3%
#31
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford logo

University of Pittsburgh-Bradford

Bradford, PA · Public

$44,520
4yr Earnings
19 grads · small sample
2yr: $33,993 (25)
1yr: $27,153 (24)
Acceptance: 90.8%
#32
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus logo

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA · Public

$44,520
4yr Earnings
19 grads · small sample
2yr: $33,993 (25)
1yr: $27,153 (24)
Acceptance: 49.7%
#33
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga logo

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN · Public

$43,858
4yr Earnings
34 grads
2yr: $25,194 (32)
1yr: $24,299 (40)
Acceptance: 77.0%
#34
Glenville State University logo

Glenville State University

Glenville, WV · Public

$38,539
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $24,421 (21)
1yr: $26,573 (17)
Acceptance: N/A
#35
SUNY at Purchase College logo

SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase, NY · Public

$36,895
4yr Earnings
22 grads · small sample
2yr: $22,192 (21)
1yr: $22,947 (25)
Acceptance: 72.8%
#36
Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

$69,338
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 7.1%
#37
Williams College logo

Williams College

Williamstown, MA · Private

$68,219
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 10.0%
#38
Boston University logo

Boston University

Boston, MA · Private

$45,696
2yr Earnings
22 grads · small sample
1yr: $48,872 (22)
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 10.8%
#39
University of La Verne logo

University of La Verne

La Verne, CA · Private

$44,942
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 48.5%
#40
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania logo

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg, PA · Public

$42,123
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 94.8%
#41
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus logo

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

Indiana, PA · Public

$41,937
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 91.2%
#42
Lafayette College logo

Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
1yr: $25,006 (17)
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 31.5%
#43
Randolph-Macon College logo

Randolph-Macon College

Ashland, VA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 83.4%
#44
Knox College logo

Knox College

Galesburg, IL · Private

$26,739
2yr Earnings
19 grads · small sample
1yr: $25,275 (19)
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 71.1%
#45
Carleton College logo

Carleton College

Northfield, MN · Private

$26,353
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 22.3%
#46
University of West Florida logo

University of West Florida

Pensacola, FL · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 56.9%
#47
The College of Idaho logo

The College of Idaho

Caldwell, ID · Private

$24,035
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 47.2%
#48
Colby-Sawyer College logo

Colby-Sawyer College

New London, NH · Private

$21,964
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 90.0%
#49
University of Massachusetts-Amherst logo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public

$16,663
2yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
1yr: $28,794 (17)
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 57.8%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Social Sciences, Other?
University of California-Berkeley ranks #1 for Social Sciences, Other with median graduate earnings of $101,138 within four years of graduating. There are 49 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Social Sciences, Other graduates earn?
Social Sciences, Other graduates earn an average of $56,812 within four years of graduating. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $36,895 to $101,138 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Social Sciences, Other program?
The average acceptance rate across Social Sciences, Other programs is 60.4%. The most selective program is at Columbia University in the City of New York with a 4.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Social Sciences, Other?
Private Social Sciences, Other programs average $58,682 in early earnings vs $55,956 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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