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 analysis found Santa Rosa Junior College to be the best value school for general social sciences students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. SRJC is a large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SRJC are $8,952 a year.
SRJC also claimed a spot on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Thomas Edison State University is a great value for general social sciences students. Located in the small city of Trenton, TESU is a public school 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.
TESU 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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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 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.
Colorado State University - Global Campus also claimed a spot on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at Colorado State University - Global Campus
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The Graduate Center, CUNY. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools list. Located in the city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at The Graduate Center are $15,360 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, The Graduate Center also did well on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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The excellent programs at Bellevue University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best general social sciences schools in the United States. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the 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.
Bellevue University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
Full General Social Sciences at Bellevue University Report
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Rose State College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value general social sciences programs. RSC is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Midwest City.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at RSC are $11,131 a year.
Full General Social Sciences at Rose State College Report
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Harrisburg Area Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools list. Located in the small city of Harrisburg, HACC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at HACC are $9,818 a 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 ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools list. UMGC is a fairly large public school located in the large 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.
In addition to its great value ranking, UMGC is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
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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 large city of Saint Paul, Metro State is a public school with a moderately-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.
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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 school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - River Falls are $15,661 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW - River Falls is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
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National University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value general social sciences programs. National University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of La Jolla.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at National University are $13,320 a year.
National University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
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With a ranking of #12, East Los Angeles College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general social sciences students. East Los Angeles College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at East Los Angeles College are $9,012 per year. Social Sciences majors at East Los Angeles College take out an average of $5,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full General Social Sciences at East Los Angeles College Report
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Butte College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for general social sciences students. It came in at #13 on the list. Butte College is a medium-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.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Essex are $8,966 per year. Social Sciences majors at Essex take out an average of $7,570 in student loans while working on their egree.
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University of North Dakota landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value general social sciences programs. Located in the small city of Grand Forks, UND is a public school with a fairly large student population.
UND undergraduate students pay an average of $15,037 in tuition and fees each year. On average, social sciences graduates from UND take out $29,634 in student loans while working on their degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, UND is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
Full General Social Sciences at University of North Dakota Report
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With a ranking of #16, Brandman University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general social sciences students. Located in the large city of Irvine, Brandman is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Brandman are $12,480 a year. Social Sciences majors at Brandman take out an average of $34,606 in student loans while working on their egree.
Brandman excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
Full General Social Sciences at Brandman University Report
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Southeast Missouri State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value general social sciences programs. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Missouri State University are $15,285 per year. On average, social sciences graduates from Southeast Missouri State University take out $33,079 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full General Social Sciences at Southeast Missouri State University Report
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With a ranking of #18, Northern Virginia Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general social sciences students. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Northern Virginia Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,648 in tuition and fees each year. On average, social sciences graduates from Northern Virginia Community College take out $11,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Northern Virginia Community College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best General Social Sciences Schools list.
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University of Minnesota - Morris came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools ranking. UMN Morris is a small public school located in the town of Morris.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UMN Morris are $15,940 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UMN Morris also is in the top 20% of our Best General Social Sciences Schools ranking.
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With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general social sciences students. UW - Stout is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Menomonie.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Stout are $17,820 a 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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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools list. UW - Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater.
UW - Whitewater undergraduate students pay an average of $16,602 in tuition and fees each 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.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
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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 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 landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value general social sciences programs. Located in the large 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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With a ranking of #25, Tulsa Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for general social sciences students. Tulsa Community College is a large public school located in the city of Tulsa.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tulsa Community College are $8,845 per 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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