2026 Best General Social Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best General Social Sciences graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 540 schools 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.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Johns Hopkins University to be the best General Social Sciences school in the United States. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. Johns Hopkins University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $13,426. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in College Park, MD. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. University Of Maryland College Park General Social Sciences students take on a median of $20,836 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Washington University In St Louis came in at #3 on this year's General Social Sciences ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in St. Louis, MO. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,790. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $17,553. More on Washington University In St Louis
You'll be in good company at Emory University, which ranked #4 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Atlanta, GA. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,280. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $19,431. Get the full Emory University report
The strong General Social Sciences programs at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete their General Social Sciences program here. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
Case Western Reserve University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cleveland, OH. About 87% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete their General Social Sciences program here. Read the full report on Case Western Reserve University
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Set in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Purdue University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $19,844. Get the full Purdue University Main Campus report
University Of Chicago came in at #8 in this year's ranking. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. About 96% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $15,854. Read the full report on University Of Chicago
University Of Iowa ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Based in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $24,463. Get the full University Of Iowa report
University Of Utah placed #10 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. University Of Utah is a public school based in Salt Lake City, UT. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. University Of Utah General Social Sciences students take on a median of $22,442 in debt. Read more about University Of Utah
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Located in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $21,818. Read more about University Of Missouri Columbia
Syracuse University placed #12 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Based in Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $26,130. Read more about Syracuse University
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in Birmingham, AL, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $26,162. Get the full University Of Alabama At Birmingham report
University Of Arizona did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $21,861. Read more about University Of Arizona
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. University Of Maryland Baltimore County General Social Sciences students take on a median of $21,331 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Arizona State University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Arizona State University is a public school based in Tempe, AZ. Arizona State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $21,842. More on Arizona State University
Montclair State University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Montclair, NJ, Montclair State University is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete their General Social Sciences program here. See the full Montclair State University profile
University Of Nevada Las Vegas did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Las Vegas, NV, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public institution. University Of Nevada Las Vegas posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Graduates carry a median of $21,181 in student loans. Get the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas report
University Of West Georgia came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Carrollton, GA. University Of West Georgia posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,088, while out-of-state students pay about $17,800. Students borrow a median of $26,789 to complete their General Social Sciences program here. See the full University Of West Georgia profile
University Of Connecticut landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Located in Storrs, CT, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans. More on University Of Connecticut
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs General Social Sciences students take on a median of $23,559 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs
University Of Idaho did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Moscow, ID. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans. More on University Of Idaho
Kent State University At Kent came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Set in Kent, OH, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Kent State University At Kent posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Kent State University At Kent General Social Sciences students take on a median of $25,174 in debt. Get the full Kent State University At Kent report
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #24 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public school based in Boston, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. University Of Massachusetts Boston General Social Sciences students take on a median of $26,236 in debt. More on University Of Massachusetts Boston
Columbia International University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Read the full report on Columbia International University
Rest of the Top 50 Best General Social Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Frederick Community College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Get the full Frederick Community College report
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. More on Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Great Valley landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Great Valley report
West Liberty University placed #29 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full West Liberty University profile
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #30 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Crafton Hills College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. See the full Crafton Hills College profile
Whitworth University came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Read more about Whitworth University
Miami University Hamilton came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Miami University Hamilton
Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. See the full Pennsylvania State University World Campus profile
Capital Community College did well this year, earning the #35 position. Read more about Capital Community College
San Bernardino Valley College did well this year, earning the #36 position. See the full San Bernardino Valley College profile
University Of Southern Maine ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Get the full University Of Southern Maine report
Mission College
Mission College placed #38 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Mission College report
Salt Lake Community College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. See the full Salt Lake Community College profile
Boise State University did well this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Boise State University profile
Southwestern Michigan College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Get the full Southwestern Michigan College report
Temple University placed #42 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Temple University
Gordon College
Gordon College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Gordon College
Colorado Christian University landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. See the full Colorado Christian University profile
Mount Saint Mary College did well this year, earning the #45 position. See the full Mount Saint Mary College profile
University Of Puerto Rico Utuado placed #46 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Puerto Rico Utuado report
Berry College
Berry College placed #47 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Berry College report
College Of The Siskiyous placed #48 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on College Of The Siskiyous
Grand Valley State University placed #49 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Grand Valley State University report
American International College placed #50 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full American International College report
Related General Social Sciences Rankings
Explore 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best General Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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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