2026 Best General Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best General Social Sciences master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 540 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, 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 Master’s 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. Set in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete their General Social Sciences program here. Get the full Johns Hopkins University report
A rank of #2 makes Harvard University one of the top choices in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cambridge, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $19,937. Read more about Harvard University
A rank of #3 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top choices in the United States. Located in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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
The strong General Social Sciences programs at Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Charleston, SC, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a public institution. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina graduates 75% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,570, while out-of-state students pay about $38,508. Graduates carry a median of $24,305 in student loans. Read the full report on Citadel Military College Of South Carolina
Out of the 540 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Chicago landed the #5 spot. Based in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. University Of Chicago General Social Sciences students take on a median of $15,854 in debt. Get the full University Of Chicago report
Michigan State University landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Set in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Michigan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 81%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Michigan State University General Social Sciences students take on a median of $29,198 in debt. Read more about Michigan State University
Mercer University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Macon, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,565. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $47,010. Read the full report on Mercer University
The University Of Texas At Dallas placed #8 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Set in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Dallas posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $20,531. More on The University Of Texas At Dallas
Bellevue University placed #9 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Located in Bellevue, NE, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bellevue University posts a six-year graduation rate of 33%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $34,734. Get the full Bellevue University report
Towson University landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Towson, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $20,000. See the full Towson University profile
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school based in Athens, OH. About 65% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $24,546. Read more about Ohio University Main Campus
Eastern Michigan University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Located in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $28,781. Get the full Eastern Michigan University report
University Of Colorado Denver did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $26,582. More on University Of Colorado Denver
Montclair State University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Montclair, NJ, Montclair State University is a public institution. Montclair State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $25,286. Read the full report on Montclair State University
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Louis University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Read more about Saint Louis University Main Campus
California State University Chico ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Located in Chico, CA, California State University Chico is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,472, while out-of-state students pay about $21,072. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete their General Social Sciences program here. Read the full report on California State University Chico
Arizona State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. This public school is set in Tempe, AZ. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical General Social Sciences student debt is $21,842. More on Arizona State University
California State University San Bernardino placed #19 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Located in San Bernardino, CA, California State University San Bernardino is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,088, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,149 in student loans. More on California State University San Bernardino
Troy University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Troy, AL, Troy University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Troy University General Social Sciences students take on a median of $28,125 in debt. See the full Troy University profile
Humboldt State University placed #22 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Humboldt State University is a public school based in Arcata, CA. Humboldt State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,397, with out-of-state students paying around $20,997. The median General Social Sciences program debt is $19,129. See the full Humboldt State University profile
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Tallahassee, FL, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Graduates carry a median of $26,824 in student loans. Get the full Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University report
Southern University And A And M College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Set in Baton Rouge, LA, Southern University And A And M College is a public institution. Southern University And A And M College graduates 27% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,922 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,272. Students borrow a median of $33,288 to complete their General Social Sciences program here. See the full Southern University And A And M College profile
Dominican University placed #23 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on Dominican University
University Of South Carolina Beaufort did well this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full University Of South Carolina Beaufort report
Western New Mexico University landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Western New Mexico University
Rest of the Top 50 Best General Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. More on J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
University Of Wisconsin River Falls did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on University Of Wisconsin River Falls
Central Oregon Community College placed #28 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Central Oregon Community College report
Virginia Wesleyan College did well this year, earning the #29 position. See the full Virginia Wesleyan College profile
University Of North Dakota ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. More on University Of North Dakota
Charleston Southern University came in at #31 in this year's ranking. See the full Charleston Southern University profile
Misericordia University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. More on Misericordia University
The University Of West Florida came in at #33 in this year's ranking. More on The University Of West Florida
Cleveland State University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Read more about Cleveland State University
Howard College
Howard College placed #35 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Howard College
South Carolina State University landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Read more about South Carolina State University
West Valley College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. More on West Valley College
Bemidji State University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. See the full Bemidji State University profile
Hiram College
Hiram College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full Hiram College report
Westfield State University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Get the full Westfield State University report
Napa Valley College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Read more about Napa Valley College
University Of Connecticut ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. Read more about University Of Connecticut
Cosumnes River College placed #43 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cosumnes River College
Lewis Clark State College did well this year, earning the #44 position. More on Lewis Clark State College
Michigan Technological University came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Michigan Technological University
University Of Kentucky placed #46 among General Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
East Mississippi Community College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best General Social Sciences schools. See the full East Mississippi Community College profile
Ohlone Community College did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read the full report on Ohlone Community College
San Francisco State University came in at #49 in this year's ranking. More on San Francisco State University
East Los Angeles College came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read more about East Los Angeles College
Related General Social Sciences Rankings
Compare rankings at 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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