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2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in the Southeast Region

42 Ranked Colleges
629 Degrees Awarded
$68,458 Avg Salary
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

With 197,356 degrees handed out in 2021-2022, social sciences is the 5th most popular major in the United States. In , social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $36,428 and had an average of $22,588 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 35,315 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,349 and $22,533 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 629 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,674 and $121,130 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region” ranking looked at 42 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. That schools that top this list have a program in social sciences in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in the Southeast Region

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #1 spot on the list. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 39 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Duke University

2
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s social sciences students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Vanderbilt University Social Sciences Report

3
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Emory University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s social sciences students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Emory Social Sciences Report

4
UNO crest
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of New Orleans. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region list. University of New Orleans is a medium-sized public school situated in New Orleans, Louisiana. It awarded 5 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at UNO

5
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia State University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region. This large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 25 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Georgia State University

6
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region list. University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, Kentucky and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 26 doctorate’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UK Social Sciences Report

7
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, this large public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social sciences students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Full Virginia Tech Social Sciences Report

8
Southern Miss crest
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, this fairly large public school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s social sciences students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Southern Mississippi

9

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at USF Tampa

10
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social sciences degrees to 39 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at GMU

11
Tulane crest
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

Tulane University of Louisiana came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Tulane is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Tulane University of Louisiana

12

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 44 doctorate’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill

13
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 41 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social sciences students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UF Social Sciences Report

14
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at NC State

15
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Virginia is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 31 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Virginia Social Sciences Report

16
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Old Dominion is a large public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 12 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Old Dominion

17
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region list. West Virginia University is a large school located in Morgantown, West Virginia that handed out 15 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at West Virginia University

18

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a large school located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that handed out 23 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Social Sciences Report

19

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Social Sciences at UT Knoxville

20

University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 14 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of South Carolina - Columbia Social Sciences Report

21
UofL crest
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

With a ranking of #21, University of Louisville did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region list. University of Louisville is located in Louisville, Kentucky and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at UofL

22
CAU crest
Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta, Georgia

Clark Atlanta University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region list. CAU is a small school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 26 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CAU Social Sciences Report

23
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region list. Clemson University is a large school located in Clemson, South Carolina that handed out 12 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Clemson Social Sciences Report

24
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #24. University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 40 doctorate’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full University of Georgia Social Sciences Report

25
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Sciences Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #25. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social sciences degrees to 12 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at The University of Alabama

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