by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,562 U.S. colleges awarded 188,196 degrees and certificates in Social Sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 73% of graduates. College Factual ranks 960 schools in its 2027 Best Social Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $42,414 one year after completing, rising to $66,295 after four years.
Do you want to better understand human problems and the world that we live in? The field of Social Sciences incorporates classes from a variety of disciplines in the liberal arts field allowing you to study the world from a variety of cultural, intellectual, and social perspectives.
One popular major in this field is Economics which involves the study of the distribution of goods and services. If you are more interested in criminal behavior, Criminology allows you to learn about the causes of crime, behavior of criminals, and the social justice system that we have in place today. More science and math minded students might prefer to study Geography and Cartography to learn about Earth's physical structures as well as the science of map-making. Major in Archeology in order to discover ancient civilizations of the past, while a major in International Relations and National Security focuses more on current affairs and national security issues .
A major in Social Sciences involves the study of Social Sciences. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Systematic Study Of Social Systems, Social Institutions, And Social Behavior.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, social sciences is a popular field of study, with 188,196 degrees awarded annually. 1,562 colleges award social sciences degrees, an average of 120 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 2,862.
By level, the 188,196 awards include 358 certificates, 23,565 associate degrees, 137,107 bachelor’s degrees, 23,337 master’s degrees and 3,677 doctorates.
Women earned 56% of social sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (106,071 of 188,196). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (84,281) and Hispanic or Latino (39,445), and international students earned 18,348.
College Factual ranks 960 schools in its 2027 Best Social Sciences Schools ranking, including 160 for associate degrees, 773 for bachelor’s degrees, 228 for master’s degrees and 65 for doctorates. It also ranks social sciences schools within 52 states. In all, 1,562 colleges offer social sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Social Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common social sciences credential is the bachelor’s degree: 137,107 of the 188,196 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to social sciences call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Law and Government, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
This field of study requires a student who comfortable with abstract thought and theory and interested in applying learned methods to real-life situations. They will need to make connections between various subjects and will spend a lot of time researching papers and analyzing data. Creativity and problem solving skills will lead to success.
Communication skills are important in this field, as it will involve a lot of written reports and well as person-to-person interaction. Classes will include discussion and debate on controversial subjects. Students should be confident in their abilities to defend their opinions, while at the same time keep an open mind.
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How long a social sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 358 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 23,565 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 137,107 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 23,337 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3,677 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to social sciences, at 39.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 39.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.8% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Social Sciences, with an average median salary of $88,487; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, Professor, Assistant Professor and Associate Professor.
Majoring in the field of Social Sciences will prepare you to work in many different occupations. Skills learned from your undergraduate degree can be applied to many different jobs and are also a good basis for furthering your education with an advanced degree in the social sciences, business or law.
Many graduates find work in law enforcement, homeland security, investigation, archeological consulting firms, community service and health services. Grads can also work in business administration, or work for the government as an economist, geographer or cartographer. Explore your options and choose a field that appeals the most to you. Previous work experience or an advanced degree will help you gain the position you desire.
The occupation related to social sciences with the most projected jobs is Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,638,816.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 730,797 | 12.0% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 671,367 | 10.3% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
Social Sciences graduates earn a median $42,414 one year after completing their program, $66,295 after four years and $65,270 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,414 |
| 4 years | $66,295 |
| 5 years | $65,270 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to social sciences is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $124,518 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
Social Sciences includes 14 concentrations that together award 188,196 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Economics (48,196), Political Science and Government (45,425) and Sociology (30,816). Browse the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 48,196 |
| Political Science and Government | 45,425 |
| Sociology | 30,816 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,558 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 12,780 |
| Criminology | 10,920 |
| Anthropology | 10,836 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,459 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,820 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,300 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 574 |
| Archeology | 434 |
| Demography | 71 |
| Geography and Anthropology | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
