by our College Data Analytics Team
[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 949 schools to find the best return on investment for social sciences students.
What’s on this page:
The social sciences program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Social Sciences Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Social Sciences Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
College Of San Mateo tops our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools in the United States. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $12,831. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Princeton University earned it the #2 place for social sciences. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $87,076. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Lehman College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $12,757 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $41,237. Set against $12,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Cuny Hunter College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $11,340. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $33,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Valley College earned it the #5 place for social sciences. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $13,212. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $35,319. Set against $13,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,464, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Students borrow a median of $11,857 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $43,838 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,857 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
De Anza College landed the #9 spot for social sciences value this year. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,571, while out-of-state students pay about $12,596. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $7,271 in student loans. Median earnings reach $56,596 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Brooklyn College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,274 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $32,797 early in their careers. Set against $16,274 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
College Of The Canyons landed the #11 spot for social sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $51,913. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
Yuba College landed the #12 spot for social sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,128, with out-of-state students paying around $8,208. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,729 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $89,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Florida ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $16,172. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $38,162. That is a strong return on a $16,172 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Cerritos College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #15 for value in social sciences this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $12,083. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $37,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Bernardino earned the #16 position for value in social sciences this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $15,336. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $27,904. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny City College landed the #17 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $9,841. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $39,419. Set against $9,841 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton placed #18 among the best values for social sciences. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,701 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $33,492. That is a strong return on a $13,701 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Oxnard College landed the #19 spot for social sciences value this year. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Santa Monica College landed the #20 spot for social sciences value this year. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
University Of Florida Online placed #21 among the best values for social sciences. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,399 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $30,720 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,399 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Texas A And M University Central Texas ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Set in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,363, compared with $17,155 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $23,160. Social Sciences graduates of Texas A And M University Central Texas earn a median of $50,370 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earned the #23 position for value in social sciences this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $16,893. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skyline College came in at #24 for value in social sciences this year. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
Cuny Queens College earned the #25 position for value in social sciences this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $12,415. Social Sciences graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $36,825 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in social sciences:
These institutions also earned high marks for social sciences value:
A few more high-value social sciences schools worth a look:
Social Sciences is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
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The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 949 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 949 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.