Social Sciences programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $18,148 to $119,185 across 593 ranked institutions. The median earnings of $52,644 represent a $7,581 premium above national averages, demonstrating how strong program selection in liberal arts disciplines directly impacts long-term financial outcomes and research skills development.
Leading the list is Duke University, achieving the highest program earnings at $119,185, followed by University Of Chicago at $111,345 and Massachusetts Institute Of Technology at $110,878. These top-tier institutions demonstrate exceptional program outcomes that justify their positioning, with graduates commanding median earnings nearly double the national average for social sciences majors.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | Durham, NC | $117,615 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $3,295 | 6.8% | 95.8% |
| #2 | Cambridge, MA | $110,878 Median Social Sciences Earnings | -$4,129 | 4.7% | 96.1% | |
| #3 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | Chicago, IL | $109,917 Median Social Sciences Earnings | -$1,428 | 4.8% | 94.9% |
| #4 | Yale UniversityPrivate | New Haven, CT | $105,947 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $28,132 | 4.5% | 96.3% |
| #5 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | Stanford, CA | $104,978 Median Social Sciences Earnings | -$79 | 3.9% | 92.8% |
| #6 | Amherst CollegePrivate | Amherst, MA | $103,705 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $1,888 | 9.8% | 93.4% |
| #7 | Pomona CollegePrivate | Claremont, CA | $100,669 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $5,638 | 6.8% | 93.2% |
| #8 | Williams CollegePrivate | Williamstown, MA | $100,170 Median Social Sciences Earnings | -$2,421 | 10.0% | 96.5% |
| #9 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | Philadelphia, PA | $99,150 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $1,026 | 5.9% | 96.8% |
| #10 | Claremont Mckenna CollegePrivate | Claremont, CA | $98,345 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $13,267 | 11.1% | 95.2% |
| #11 | Swarthmore CollegePrivate | Swarthmore, PA | $97,463 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $8,580 | 6.9% | 94.1% |
| #12 | Middlebury CollegePrivate | Middlebury, VT | $94,255 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $10,270 | 10.4% | 92.6% |
| #13 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | Pittsburgh, PA | $94,093 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $8,460 | 11.4% | 92.5% |
| #14 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | Cambridge, MA | $91,771 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $2,895 | 3.5% | 97.3% |
| #15 | New York, NY | $90,204 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $6,342 | 4.2% | 95.0% | |
| #16 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | Baltimore, MD | $90,111 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $1,473 | 7.6% | 94.6% |
| #17 | Lexington, VA | $89,533 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $76 | 17.4% | 94.9% | |
| #18 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | Evanston, IL | $89,205 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $1,243 | 7.1% | 95.9% |
| #19 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | Hamilton, NY | $89,131 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $3,341 | 11.9% | 90.5% |
| #20 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | Hanover, NH | $88,360 Median Social Sciences Earnings | $2,978 | 6.2% | 96.0% |
