Compare 109 Social Sciences, General. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $44,609. Top programs: $97,257+.
With top graduates earning $97,257, Social Sciences, General stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $52K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige across 109 ranked programs.
University of California-Berkeley's Social Sciences program leads with graduates earning $97,257, significantly above the national average of $44,609. Manhattan College follows at $85,294, proving that strong outcomes aren't limited to the most selective institutions—Manhattan's 78% acceptance rate demonstrates accessibility without sacrificing earning potential.
Highest program earnings: $97,257
Strong outcomes ($85,294) with 78% acceptance
2.4% payment burden | Excellent
8.4% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $97,257 | 238 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Good | |
| #2 | Manhattan CollegePrivate | $85,294 | 23 | $26,000 | Excellent | $56,630 | Challenging |
| #3 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $80,320 | 227 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good |
| #4 | $79,100 | 72 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Good | |
| #5 | Williams CollegePrivate | $74,016 | 7 | $12,761 | Excellent | $31,178 | Manageable |
| #6 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $72,825 | 157 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Manageable |
| #7 | University Of BridgeportPrivate | $66,991 | 10 | $25,750 | Excellent | $22,931 | Manageable |
| #8 | New York UniversityPrivate | $64,549 | 78 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | High |
| #9 | $62,428 | 143 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Challenging | |
| #10 | Mercer UniversityPrivate | $61,612 | 20 | $24,199 | Good | $20,000 | Manageable |
| #11 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $61,389 | 28 | $23,250 | Good | $39,000 | Challenging |
| #12 | University Of RochesterPrivate | $61,172 | 36 | $21,000 | Excellent | $30,000 | Challenging |
| #13 | $59,341 | 45 | $21,500 | Good | $25,294 | Challenging | |
| #14 | Loyola University MarylandPrivate | $55,596 | 28 | $27,000 | Good | $50,344 | High |
| #15 | University Of OregonPublic | $55,393 | 380 | $20,139 | Good | $44,405 | High |
| #16 | $53,941 | 11 | $19,450 | Good | $20,906 | Challenging | |
| #17 | Towson UniversityPublic | $53,684 | 226 | $18,718 | Good | $28,489 | Challenging |
| #18 | $53,186 | 394 | $19,500 | Good | $29,968 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $52,781 | 70 | $27,000 | Manageable | $23,103 | Challenging | |
| #20 | $52,680 | 27 | $19,250 | Good | $23,211 | Challenging | |
| #21 | $52,438 | 31 | $17,500 | Good | $18,275 | Manageable | |
| #22 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $52,295 | 10 | $22,500 | Good | $22,900 | Challenging |
| #23 | Whittier CollegePrivate | $52,209 | 30 | $24,937 | Good | $36,148 | High |
| #24 | $51,280 | 108 | $19,500 | Good | $22,000 | Challenging | |
| #25 | $50,723 | 129 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
