2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Florida
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools
For return on investment in social sciences, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,172 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $38,020 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,172 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Florida Online is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $16,399. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $30,881. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida Online admits about 61% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #3 place for social sciences. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,213 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $36,003. That is a strong return on a $22,213 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Students looking for strong value in social sciences will find it at The University Of West Florida, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $19,994. Social Sciences graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $35,801 early in their careers. Set against $19,994 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $22,375. Social Sciences graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $38,495 early in their careers. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Florida International University earned the #6 position for value in social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $19,849. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $33,452. Set against $19,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,329 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $40,349 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,329 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
Florida State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,252 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $44,849. That is a strong return on a $20,252 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of North Florida came in at #9 for value in social sciences this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $17,309. Social Sciences graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $37,265 early in their careers. Set against $17,309 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida earned the #10 position for value in social sciences this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $23,595 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $35,127 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,595 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University landed the #11 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,725. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $27,731. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University generally make around $33,431. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Saint Leo University came in at #12 for value in social sciences this year. Set in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,000. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $46,960. Social Sciences graduates of Saint Leo University earn a median of $39,498 early in their careers. Set against $46,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Stetson University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the city of DeLand, Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,410. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $23,750. Social Sciences graduates of Stetson University earn a median of $26,839 early in their careers. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Barry University earned the #14 position for value in social sciences this year. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. Students from in state pay about $34,350 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $27,000. Social Sciences graduates of Barry University earn a median of $44,015 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Ave Maria University earned the #15 position for value in social sciences this year. Set in the rural area of Ave Maria, Ave Maria University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,198. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,801 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Ave Maria University generally make around $40,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Jacksonville University landed the #16 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,150. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $31,000. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $31,204. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Jacksonville University admits about 57% of applicants.
Florida Southern College came in at #17 for value in social sciences this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,040. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,356 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Florida Southern College earn a median of $39,713 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Flagler College St Augustine ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Augustine, Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,900. Students borrow a median of $25,625 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of Flagler College St Augustine earn a median of $29,240 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,625 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Nova Southeastern University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Students from in state pay about $38,700 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $70,595. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants.
Eckerd College placed #20 among the best values for social sciences. Located in the city of Saint Petersburg, Eckerd College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,884. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $26,500. Social Sciences graduates of Eckerd College earn a median of $25,013 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Rollins College placed #21 among the best values for social sciences. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Rollins College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,580. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $25,901. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $35,514. That is a strong return on a $25,901 median debt. Rollins College admits about 48% of applicants.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earned the #22 position for value in social sciences this year. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. In-state tuition and fees average $25,056. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $36,416 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $45,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale admits about 97% of applicants.
The University Of Tampa landed the #23 spot for social sciences value this year. The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,408. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,192 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of The University Of Tampa earn a median of $43,597 early in their careers. Set against $25,192 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami landed the #24 spot for social sciences value this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. In-state tuition and fees average $62,616. Students borrow a median of $17,601 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $38,768 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,601 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
