Social Sciences: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Social Sciences is an expansive academic domain dedicated to the systematic study of human society, social relationships, and the structures that shape individual and collective behavior. This interdisciplinary field equips learners with analytical tools to explore complex social phenomena, from cultural dynamics and political systems to economic patterns and historical developments.
- Anthropology: The study of human cultures, societies, and their development over time, including language, traditions, and material remains.
- Political Science: An examination of political systems, governance, public policy, and the distribution of power within and between nations.
- Economics: The analysis of how individuals, institutions, and societies allocate limited resources to satisfy unlimited wants and needs.
- Sociology: The scientific investigation of social behavior, institutions, and the ways in which people interact within groups and societies.
- Psychology: The study of human thought, emotion, and behavior, focusing on both individual and group mental processes.
- Geography: The exploration of Earth’s physical features and human activity, including spatial patterns, environmental interactions, and regional development.
- History: The critical examination of past events, civilizations, and societal transformations to understand the evolution of human experience.
- International Relations: The study of diplomatic, economic, and military interactions among nations, with emphasis on global cooperation and conflict.
Social Sciences Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Social Sciences Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Social Sciences degrees, including Managers, All Other, Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other and Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 685,490 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other 19-3099 | $100,340 | $62,570 - $160,810 | 36,970 | $48.24 |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other 25-1069 | $75,040 | $45,280 - $176,350 | 17,540 | N/A |
Social Sciences Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $71,295 in Utah to $170,310 in Delaware—a 139% difference. The highest-paying states include Delaware, Virginia, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 685,490 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Social Sciences by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Social Sciences programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Social Sciences is found at Towson University (TU) (208 graduates), University of California (UCB), Berkeley (163 graduates), New York University (NYU) (126 graduates), Boston University (BU) (108 graduates), and University of Southern Maine (USM) (88 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,938 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towson University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
208 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
163 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
126 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
108 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
88 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
83 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Rose State College (RSC) |
Associate's
|
57 | Midwest City, Oklahoma | Public | rose.edu |
| International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
56 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | iirp.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| Carl Albert State College (CASC) |
Associate's
|
40 | Poteau, Oklahoma | Public | carlalbert.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| University of Maine (UMPI) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Presque Isle, Maine | Public | umpi.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
34 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Clark University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | clarku.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Master's
|
30 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| Southwestern College (SC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
27 | Winfield, Kansas | Private | sckans.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Tacoma) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacoma.uw.edu |
| Capella University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Columbus State University |
Master's
|
22 | Columbus, Georgia | Public | columbusstate.edu |
| Empire State University |
Master's
|
22 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| Eastern Oregon University (EOU) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | La Grande, Oregon | Public | eou.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Bachelor's
|
18 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| Williams College |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Williamstown, Massachusetts | Private | williams.edu |
| Loyola University Maryland |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | loyola.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Bard College |
Master's
|
14 | Annandale-On-Hudson, New York | Private | bard.edu |
| Russell Sage College |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Troy, New York | Private | sage.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWGB) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
14 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | uwgb.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Master's
|
13 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Kalamazoo College |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Private | kzoo.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Master's
|
11 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| Lincoln University |
Master's
|
10 | Jefferson City, Missouri | Public | lincolnu.edu |
| Midland University |
Master's
|
10 | Fremont, Nebraska | Private | midlandu.edu |
| Keystone College |
Bachelor's
|
10 | La Plume, Pennsylvania | Private | keystone.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Other Award
|
9 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRH) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Public | upr.edu |
| Agnes Scott College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Decatur, Georgia | Private | agnesscott.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Whitman College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Walla Walla, Washington | Private | whitman.edu |
| Prescott College (PC) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Prescott, Arizona | Private | prescott.edu |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
Bachelor's
|
7 | New York, New York | Public | jjay.cuny.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Bradford, Pennsylvania | Public | upb.pitt.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRA) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | Public | upra.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Master's
|
7 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Butler University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Felician University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Lodi, New Jersey | Private | felician.edu |
| Clemson University |
Master's
|
5 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Vanguard University of Southern California |
Other Award
|
4 | Costa Mesa, California | Private | vanguard.edu |
| Colorado College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | coloradocollege.edu |
| Coppin State University |
Master's
|
4 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | coppin.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| Glenville State University (GSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Glenville, West Virginia | Public | glenville.edu |
| Omega Graduate School (OGS) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
4 | Dayton, Tennessee | Private | ogs.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Benedictine University (BenU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | ben.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) |
Other Award
|
3 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| Hamline University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | hamline.edu |
| Plymouth State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Plymouth, New Hampshire | Public | plymouth.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | newark.rutgers.edu |
| New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Las Vegas, New Mexico | Public | nmhu.edu |
| Cornell University |
Master's
|
3 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Master's
|
3 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| University of New Orleans (UNO) |
Master's
|
2 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | new.uno.edu |
| Tufts University |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| Madonna University |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Livonia, Michigan | Private | madonna.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| Northwest State Community College (NSCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Archbold, Ohio | Public | northweststate.edu |
| Mount Aloysius College (MAC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cresson, Pennsylvania | Private | mtaloy.edu |
| Concordia University Texas (CTX) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Austin, Texas | Private | concordia.edu |
| Universidad del Sagrado Corazon |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Santurce, Puerto Rico | Private | sagrado.edu |
| Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Private | obu.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Associate's
|
1 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Dominican University of California (DU of C) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | San Rafael, California | Private | dominican.edu |
| University of La Verne |
Bachelor's
|
1 | La Verne, California | Private | laverne.edu |
| Napa Valley College (NVC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Napa, California | Public | napavalley.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Other Award
|
1 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Master's
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
|
1 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Eastern Oklahoma State College (EOSC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Wilburton, Oklahoma | Public | eosc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Social Sciences programs
How much can I earn with a Social Sciences degree?
Salaries for Social Sciences graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other earn around $100,340. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Delaware average $170,310 compared to $71,295 in Utah. Approximately 685,490 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Social Sciences programs?
Currently 104 accredited institutions offer Social Sciences degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Towson University (TU) (208 graduates), University of California (UCB), Berkeley (163 graduates), and New York University (NYU) (126 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Social Sciences growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,959 in 2010 to a peak of 2,491 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,942 in 2023-24. This represents a 34% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Social Sciences degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other, and Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 685,490 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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