2026 Best General Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best General Social Sciences doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 540 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
University Of Chicago earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $15,854. More on University Of Chicago
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #2 on this year's General Social Sciences ranking in the United States. See the full University Of Maryland Baltimore County profile
Out of the 540 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, California Lutheran University landed the #3 spot. Read the full report on California Lutheran University
The strong General Social Sciences programs at Faulkner University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Read more about Faulkner University
Out of the 540 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Mohave Community College landed the #5 spot. Read the full report on Mohave Community College
North Greenville University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Read the full report on North Greenville University
Northwest State Community College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. More on Northwest State Community College
San Joaquin Delta College placed #8 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full San Joaquin Delta College report
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Boston
Central College
Central College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. See the full Central College profile
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst profile
University Of The Virgin Islands ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Get the full University Of The Virgin Islands report
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca came in at #13 in this year's ranking. See the full Glendale Community College Glendale Ca profile
Hope International University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Read more about Hope International University
University Of Delaware placed #15 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of Delaware profile
University Of Denver placed #16 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on University Of Denver
Oregon State University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Oregon State University report
Stevens Institute Of Technology placed #18 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Stevens Institute Of Technology
Albertus Magnus College did well this year, earning the #19 position. See the full Albertus Magnus College profile
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. More on Missouri State University Springfield
Mount Marty College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Get the full Mount Marty College report
Spring Arbor University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. See the full Spring Arbor University profile
University Of California Merced ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Read more about University Of California Merced
Arizona Western College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read more about Arizona Western College
National Louis University landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read more about National Louis University
Rest of the Top 50 Best General Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Rockford College
Rockford College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Get the full Rockford College report
Sheridan College
Sheridan College landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Sheridan College report
Suny At Binghamton ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Read more about Suny At Binghamton
The University Of Montana Western landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Get the full The University Of Montana Western report
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez report
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff profile
Erie Community College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. More on Erie Community College
Gordon College
Gordon College did well this year, earning the #33 position. More on Gordon College
Modesto Junior College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. More on Modesto Junior College
Bryn Athyn College Of The New Church placed #35 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Bryn Athyn College Of The New Church report
Clovis Community College Fresno came in at #36 in this year's ranking. See the full Clovis Community College Fresno profile
Cuny Queens College placed #37 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Cuny Queens College
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #38 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
Yuba College
Yuba College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. More on Yuba College
Las Positas College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. See the full Las Positas College profile
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #41 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
Western New Mexico University came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Get the full Western New Mexico University report
Western Wyoming Community College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read more about Western Wyoming Community College
Bluefield College placed #44 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Bluefield College profile
Odessa College
Odessa College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. See the full Odessa College profile
Warner Pacific College placed #46 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Warner Pacific College
Washington State University placed #47 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Washington State University
Grand Valley State University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. More on Grand Valley State University
Indiana University Southeast placed #49 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Indiana University Southeast
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. See the full Bethel University Minnesota profile
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 Associate’s 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
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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