Compare 30 Social Sciences, General. programs in the South. Average earnings: $39,937.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Social Sciences, General. tells a different story. Across 30 programs, earnings range from $34,209 to $80,320—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Vanderbilt University's Social Sciences program leads with graduates earning $80,320, nearly double the $39,937 average across all programs. But Mercer University follows at $61,612 with 66% acceptance, proving accessible programs can deliver strong outcomes when evaluated on merit rather than prestige.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $80,320 | 227 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good |
| #2 | Mercer UniversityPrivate | $61,612 | 20 | $24,199 | Good | $20,000 | Manageable |
| #3 | Loyola University MarylandPrivate | $55,596 | 28 | $27,000 | Good | $50,344 | High |
| #4 | Towson UniversityPublic | $53,684 | 226 | $18,718 | Good | $28,489 | Challenging |
| #5 | $52,680 | 27 | $19,250 | Good | $23,211 | Challenging | |
| #6 | Florida State UniversityPublic | $47,057 | 292 | $18,000 | Good | $17,000 | Challenging |
| #7 | $46,843 | 12 | $12,950 | Excellent | $8,107 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $45,620 | 17 | $24,500 | Manageable | $16,398 | High |
| #9 | Rogers State UniversityPublic | $43,655 | 34 | $20,500 | Manageable | $13,245 | Challenging |
| #10 | Concordia University TexasPrivate | $42,699 | 5 | $21,852 | Manageable | $25,137 | High |
| #11 | $42,070 | 153 | $17,988 | Manageable | $15,541 | High | |
| #12 | $41,015 | 27 | $22,095 | Manageable | $18,310 | High | |
| #13 | Campbell UniversityPrivate | $40,273 | 22 | $22,500 | Manageable | $40,055 | High |
| #14 | $39,707 | 22 | $18,750 | Manageable | $10,000 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $38,598 | 42 | $16,624 | Manageable | $12,269 | High | |
| #16 | Troy UniversityPublic | $38,372 | 55 | $25,000 | Challenging | $13,842 | High |
| #17 | Radford UniversityPublic | $37,377 | 13 | $24,000 | Challenging | $22,158 | High |
| #18 | $35,978 | 92 | $28,250 | High | $19,245 | High | |
| #19 | $34,323 | 31 | $24,000 | High | $17,755 | High | |
| #20 | $34,209 | 33 | $18,190 | Challenging | $16,036 | High | |
| #21 | $33,606 | 23 | $20,500 | High | $33,574 | High | |
| #22 | Belhaven UniversityPrivate | $33,429 | 23 | $26,333 | High | $12,000 | High |
| #23 | $33,402 | 33 | $19,500 | Challenging | $17,353 | High | |
| #24 | Chowan UniversityPrivate | $32,113 | 6 | $29,491 | High | $27,319 | High |
| #25 | $32,051 | 14 | $26,471 | High | $18,387 | 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 →
