2026 Best General Social Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best General Social Sciences associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 540 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 General Social Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Based in Santa Rosa, CA, Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $14,692. More on Santa Rosa Junior College
Rose State College came in at #2 on this year's General Social Sciences ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Midwest City, OK. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,030, while out-of-state students pay about $11,407. Graduates carry a median of $13,451 in student loans. Read more about Rose State College
The strong General Social Sciences programs at University Of Southern Indiana earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Evansville, IN, University Of Southern Indiana is a public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. University Of Southern Indiana General Social Sciences students take on a median of $21,999 in debt. More on University Of Southern Indiana
Out of the 540 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg landed the #4 spot. Based in Harrisburg, PA, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,975, compared with $12,472 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Read more about Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Based in Annandale, VA, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Northern Virginia Community College General Social Sciences students take on a median of $10,500 in debt. More on Northern Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College placed #7 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Set in Norfolk, VA, Tidewater Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete their General Social Sciences program here. Get the full Tidewater Community College report
East Los Angeles College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Monterey Park, CA, East Los Angeles College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $5,500. More on East Los Angeles College
Suny Empire State College placed #9 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Set in Saratoga Springs, NY, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Suny Empire State College General Social Sciences students take on a median of $23,693 in debt. See the full Suny Empire State College profile
Essex County College placed #10 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Set in Newark, NJ, Essex County College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,415, while out-of-state students pay about $9,523. Graduates carry a median of $5,851 in student loans. Read the full report on Essex County College
Thomas Nelson Community College landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Located in Hampton, VA, Thomas Nelson Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,526. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $10,500. Get the full Thomas Nelson Community College report
Butte College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Oroville, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Butte College General Social Sciences students take on a median of $9,036 in debt. More on Butte College
American River College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Sacramento, CA, American River College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $14,105. Get the full American River College report
Barstow Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Barstow, CA, Barstow Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,744. Barstow Community College General Social Sciences students take on a median of $5,588 in debt. More on Barstow Community College
Brookdale Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Lincroft, NJ, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $9,500. Read more about Brookdale Community College
Tulsa Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Tulsa, OK, Tulsa Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,792, while out-of-state students pay about $9,720. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $12,625. Read more about Tulsa Community College
Boise State University placed #17 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Located in Boise, ID, Boise State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read the full report on Boise State University
Rogers State University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Based in Claremore, OK, Rogers State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,750, while out-of-state students pay about $16,410. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $23,573. See the full Rogers State University profile
Mt San Jacinto Community College District did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in San Jacinto, CA, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,448, compared with $12,728 for out-of-state students. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $6,625. More on Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Antelope Valley College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Lancaster, CA, Antelope Valley College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,124, compared with $9,548 for out-of-state students. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $12,711. See the full Antelope Valley College profile
Arizona Western College placed #21 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. This public school is set in Yuma, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,060, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. More on Arizona Western College
Universidad Del Turabo placed #22 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Located in Gurabo, PR, Universidad Del Turabo is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. Students from in state pay about $7,750 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $14,155 in student loans. More on Universidad Del Turabo
Westfield State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Read more about Westfield State University
Bennington College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Read more about Bennington College
Central Christian College Of Kansas ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. More on Central Christian College Of Kansas
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #25 position. Get the full Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania report
Rest of the Top 50 Best General Social Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Chowan University came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Chowan University
Roxbury Community College landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. See the full Roxbury Community College profile
Salt Lake Community College landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Salt Lake Community College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
University Of Alaska Southeast came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Alaska Southeast
University Of Houston Downtown came in at #31 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Houston Downtown profile
University Of Utah came in at #32 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Utah profile
Northwestern University did well this year, earning the #33 position. More on Northwestern University
Black Hills State University came in at #34 in this year's ranking. More on Black Hills State University
University Of North Dakota ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Get the full University Of North Dakota report
Virginia Highlands Community College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. See the full Virginia Highlands Community College profile
Lindsey Wilson College came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Read more about Lindsey Wilson College
Rio Hondo College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. See the full Rio Hondo College profile
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #39 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Henry Ford Community College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. See the full Henry Ford Community College profile
Roger Williams University placed #41 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Roger Williams University
Eastern Mennonite University placed #42 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on Eastern Mennonite University
Radford University did well this year, earning the #43 position. See the full Radford University profile
Corban University placed #44 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Corban University
Cumberland University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Get the full Cumberland University report
Indiana University Southeast did well this year, earning the #46 position. Read more about Indiana University Southeast
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Lee College
Lee College placed #48 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Lee College report
United States Air Force Academy landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. See the full United States Air Force Academy profile
Dodge City Community College did well this year, earning the #50 position. More on Dodge City Community College
Related General Social Sciences Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best General Social Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best General Social Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Social Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best General Social Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best General Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 540 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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