by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools in Massachusetts to determine which ones were the best for social sciences students pursuing a master's degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,560 master's degrees in social sciences during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
The social sciences master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality social sciences program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for social sciences students working on their master's degree.
The social sciences school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Social Sciences Master's Degree Schools in Massachusetts.
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for social sciences students seeking a a master's degree.
It is hard to beat Harvard University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in social sciences. Harvard is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Cambridge.More information about a master’s in social sciences from Harvard University
Tufts University is a great option for students pursuing a master's degree in social sciences. Tufts is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Medford.More information about a master’s in social sciences from Tufts University
It is hard to beat Williams College if you want to pursue a master's degree in social sciences. Located in the fringe town of Williamstown, Williams is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.More information about a master’s in social sciences from Williams College
Boston University is a wonderful decision for students pursuing a master's degree in social sciences. Boston U is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Boston.More information about a master’s in social sciences from Boston University
Boston College is a fairly large private not-for-profit college located in the small city of Chestnut Hill.More information about a master’s in social sciences from Boston College
Lasell is a small private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Newton.More information about a master’s in social sciences from Lasell University
Located in the small city of Amherst, UMass Amherst is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in social sciences from University of Massachusetts Amherst
Northeastern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Boston.More information about a master’s in social sciences from Northeastern University
Located in the small city of Waltham, Brandeis is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a master’s in social sciences from Brandeis University
Clark is a small private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Worcester.More information about a master’s in social sciences from Clark University
Explore all the Best Social Sciences Colleges in the New England Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 32 | 56 |
| Connecticut | 30 | 192 |
| New Hampshire | 27 | 103 |
| Maine | 27 | 27 |
| Vermont | 25 | 85 |
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 713 |
| International Relations & National Security | 453 |
| Political Science & Government | 101 |
| Urban Studies | 56 |
| Anthropology | 48 |
| Geography & Cartography | 46 |
| Sociology | 30 |
| Other Social Sciences | 21 |
| Archeology | 13 |
| General Social Sciences | 3 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication & Journalism | 789 |
| Theology & Religious Vocations | 560 |
| English Language & Literature | 407 |
| History | 164 |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | 129 |
| Family, Consumer & Human Sciences | 94 |
| Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies | 88 |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | 70 |
| Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities | 12 |
