2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best General Social Sciences School for You
In 2020-2021, 18,997 people earned a degree or certificate in general social sciences, making the major the #55 most popular in the United States.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value General Social Sciences Schools ranking. This report analyzed 186 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for social sciences students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in General Social Sciences
Our 2023 rankings named Santa Rosa Junior College the best value school in the United States for general social sciences students. SRJC is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Santa Rosa.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SRJC are $8,952 a year.
SRJC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Thomas Edison State University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools list. Located in the small city of Trenton, TESU is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at TESU are $9,342 a year. While working on their degree, social sciences majors at TESU accumulate an average of around $20,995 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, TESU is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at Thomas Edison State University
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Out of the 186 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Colorado State University - Global Campus landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Greenwood Village, Colorado State University - Global Campus is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Colorado State University - Global Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $8,400 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that social sciences majors at Colorado State University - Global Campus take out is $35,500.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Colorado State University - Global Campus also is in the top 10% of our Best General Social Sciences Schools ranking.
Full General Social Sciences at Colorado State University - Global Campus Report
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The excellent programs at The Graduate Center, CUNY helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best general social sciences schools in the United States. Located in the city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at The Graduate Center are $15,360 per year.
The Graduate Center excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
Full General Social Sciences at The Graduate Center, CUNY Report
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Out of the 186 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Bellevue.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Bellevue University are $8,310 a year. After completing their degree, social sciences graduates from Bellevue University carry an average student debtload of $35,945.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Bellevue University also did well on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Rose State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for general social sciences students. It came in at #6 on the list. RSC is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Midwest City.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at RSC are $11,131 a year.
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Harrisburg Area Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Harrisburg, HACC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
HACC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,818 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that social sciences majors at HACC take out is $20,064.
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University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for general social sciences students. It came in at #8 on the list. UMGC is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UMGC are $12,336 per year. While working on their degree, social sciences majors at UMGC accumulate an average of around $24,250 in student debt.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UMGC also is in the top 10% of our Best General Social Sciences Schools ranking.
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Metropolitan State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools ranking. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metro State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Metro State are $9,394 a year. On average, social sciences graduates from Metro State take out $30,882 in student loans while working on their degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Metro State also did well on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full General Social Sciences at Metropolitan State University Report
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University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value general social sciences programs. Located in the town of River Falls, UW - River Falls is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - River Falls are $15,661 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - River Falls also is in the top 10% of our Best General Social Sciences Schools ranking.
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With a ranking of #11, National University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general social sciences students. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of La Jolla.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at National University are $13,320 per year.
National University also claimed a spot on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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East Los Angeles College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools ranking. East Los Angeles College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at East Los Angeles College are $9,012 a year. Social Sciences majors at East Los Angeles College take out an average of $5,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Butte College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value general social sciences programs. Butte College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Oroville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Butte College are $7,848 a year. On average, social sciences graduates from Butte College take out $10,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full General Social Sciences at Butte College Report
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Essex County College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for general social sciences students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the large city of Newark, Essex is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Essex undergraduate students pay an average of $8,966 in tuition and fees each year. Social Sciences majors at Essex take out an average of $7,570 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full General Social Sciences at Essex County College Report
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University of North Dakota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for general social sciences students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the city of Grand Forks, UND is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UND are $15,037 a year. On average, social sciences graduates from UND take out $29,634 in student loans while working on their degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UND also did well on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full General Social Sciences at University of North Dakota Report
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Brandman University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value general social sciences programs. Located in the city of Irvine, Brandman is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Brandman are $12,480 per year. Social Sciences majors at Brandman take out an average of $34,606 in student loans while working on their egree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Brandman also did well on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full General Social Sciences at Brandman University Report
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Southeast Missouri State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southeast Missouri State University are $15,285 a year. On average, social sciences graduates from Southeast Missouri State University take out $33,079 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Northern Virginia Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools list. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northern Virginia Community College are $11,648 per year. On average, social sciences graduates from Northern Virginia Community College take out $11,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Northern Virginia Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
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With a ranking of #20, University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general social sciences students. UMN Morris is a small public school located in the town of Morris.
UMN Morris undergraduate students pay an average of $15,940 in tuition and fees each year.
UMN Morris excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
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University of Wisconsin - Stout came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools ranking. UW - Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie.
UW - Stout undergraduate students pay an average of $17,820 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that social sciences majors at UW - Stout take out is $25,000.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - Stout also did well on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general social sciences students. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Whitewater.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 per year.
UW - Whitewater also claimed a spot on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Full General Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Report
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Barstow Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools ranking. Barstow Community College is a small public school located in the distant town of Barstow.
Barstow Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,952 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, social sciences majors at Barstow Community College accumulate an average of around $6,559 in student debt.
Full General Social Sciences at Barstow Community College Report
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University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools ranking. Located in the city of Tampa, USF Tampa is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at USF Tampa are $17,324 per year. After completing their degree, social sciences graduates from USF Tampa carry an average student debtload of $26,499. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $118, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Tulsa Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools list. Tulsa Community College is a large public school located in the large city of Tulsa.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Tulsa Community College are $8,845 a year. While working on their degree, social sciences majors at Tulsa Community College accumulate an average of around $15,423 in student debt.
Full General Social Sciences at Tulsa Community College Report
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value General Social Sciences Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Coppin State University | Baltimore, MD |
| 29 | University of Akron Main Campus | Akron, OH |
| 30 | Thomas Nelson Community College | Hampton, VA |
| 31 | Brookdale Community College | Lincroft, NJ |
| 32 | Montclair State University | Montclair, NJ |
| 33 | Black Hills State University | Spearfish, SD |
| 34 | Antelope Valley College | Lancaster, CA |
| 35 | American River College | Sacramento, CA |
| 36 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 37 | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI |
General Social Sciences by Region
View the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More General Social Sciences Rankings
Majors Related to Social Sciences
One of 12 majors within the area of study, general social sciences has other similar majors worth exploring.
Majors Similar to Social Sciences
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science & Government | 49,282 |
| Economics | 49,055 |
| Sociology | 38,475 |
| International Relations & National Security | 14,306 |
| Anthropology | 11,415 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Manfred Werner (Tsui).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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