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Master's Degree in Social Sciences

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Master’s Degrees in Social Sciences

16,693 Yearly Graduations
$50,573 Median Salary
51% Women
There are 466 schools in the United States where you can get your master's degree in social sciences. In recent years, the majority of the students getting degrees in this area were female, and 25% were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 27.1% of social sciences graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Social Sciences Majors

In 2020-2021, 16,693 earned their master's degree in social sciences. This earns it the #9 spot on the list of the most popular master's degree programs in the nation.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in social sciences at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree 154,807
Associate Degree 26,277
Master’s Degree 16,693
Doctor’s Degree 3,487
Basic Certificate 2,284
Graduate Certificate 2,112
Undergraduate Certificate 324

Earnings of Social Sciences Majors With Master’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in social sciences is $50,573. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $43,353 to a high of $62,525.

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Student Debt

We do not have the data to calculate the median and range of debt loads for social sciences students who are master's degree holders.

Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their master's degree in social sciences. About 51.1% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 8,157
Women 8,536
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The racial-ethnic distribution of social sciences master’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 802
Black or African American 1,191
Hispanic or Latino 1,663
White 7,277
International Students 4,516
Other Races/Ethnicities 1,244
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There are 466 colleges that offer a master’s degree in social sciences. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
946 Yearly Graduations
46% Women
18% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The most popular school in the United States for social sciences students seekinga master's degree is Johns Hopkins University. Each year, around 28,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,720 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $58,720 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 946 master's degrees were handed out to social sciences majors at Johns Hopkins. About 46% of this group were women, and 18% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#2

George Washington University

Washington, District of Columbia
649 Yearly Graduations
48% Women
23% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

George Washington University comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Roughly 27,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $57,894 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $32,850 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 649 people received their master's degree in social sciences from GWU. Around 23% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 48% were women.

#3

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia
437 Yearly Graduations
50% Women
18% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Georgetown University comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Roughly 19,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,784 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,672 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 437 master's degrees were handed out to social sciences majors at Georgetown. Of these students, 50% were women and 18% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

421 Yearly Graduations
59% Women
22% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Columbia University in the City of New York is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 30,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $50,496 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 421 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Columbia. About 59% of this group were women, and 22% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#5

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
353 Yearly Graduations
50% Women
14% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 5th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is Tufts University. Each year, around 12,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $61,646 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,196 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 353 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Tufts. About 50% of this group were women, and 14% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#6

American University

Washington, District of Columbia
349 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
30% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 6th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is American University. Roughly 14,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,542 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $37,447 per year. The social sciences program at American University awarded 349 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 60% of this group were women, and 30% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#7

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, Wisconsin
327 Yearly Graduations
49% Women
7% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Wisconsin - Madison comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Roughly 44,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,273 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,728 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 327 master's degrees were handed out to social sciences majors at UW - Madison. Of these students, 49% were women and 7% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#8

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
317 Yearly Graduations
51% Women
16% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 8th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Chicago. Roughly 17,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,256 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $62,640 per year. The social sciences program at University of Chicago awarded 317 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 51% were women and 16% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#9

New York University

New York, New York
301 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
19% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 9th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is New York University. Each year, around 52,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $53,770 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $35,982 per year. The social sciences program at New York University awarded 301 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 60% of this group were women, and 19% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#10

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
252 Yearly Graduations
52% Women
23% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 10th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Southern California. Each year, around 46,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,446 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,446 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 252 people received their master's degree in social sciences from USC. Around 23% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 52% were women.

#11

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
218 Yearly Graduations
46% Women
33% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Harvard University is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 30,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $51,143 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $50,928 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 218 master's degrees were handed out to social sciences majors at Harvard. Of these students, 46% were women and 33% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#12

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
216 Yearly Graduations
59% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Boston University comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Roughly 32,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,560 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $58,560 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 216 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Boston U. Around 9% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 59% were women.

#13

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
200 Yearly Graduations
44% Women
18% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is Texas A&M University - College Station. Each year, around 70,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,578 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,885 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 200 master's degrees were handed out to social sciences majors at Texas A&M College Station. Around 18% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 44% were women.

#14

Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey, California
193 Yearly Graduations
12% Women
18% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 14th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is Naval Postgraduate School. Each year, around 2,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 193 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Naval Postgraduate School. Of these students, 12% were women and 18% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#15

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
176 Yearly Graduations
59% Women
27% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Brandeis University is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 5,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,408 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,498 per year. The social sciences program at Brandeis University awarded 176 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 59% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#16

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
172 Yearly Graduations
36% Women
26% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

George Mason University is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Each year, around 38,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,510 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,035 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 172 people received their master's degree in social sciences from GMU. Of these students, 36% were women and 26% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#17

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
157 Yearly Graduations
54% Women
40% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 17th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is Arizona State University - Skysong. Each year, around 53,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,774 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 157 people received their master's degree in social sciences from ASU - Skysong. Of these students, 54% were women and 40% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#18

The Graduate Center, CUNY

New York, New York
156 Yearly Graduations
49% Women
32% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The Graduate Center, CUNY is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 9,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,930 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 156 people received their master's degree in social sciences from The Graduate Center. Around 32% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 49% were women.

#19

University of California - San Diego

La Jolla, California
149 Yearly Graduations
41% Women
32% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of California - San Diego is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Each year, around 39,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,442 per year. The social sciences program at University of California - San Diego awarded 149 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 32% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 41% were women.

142 Yearly Graduations
49% Women
15% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The University of Texas at Austin is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Each year, around 50,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,752 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,050 per year. The social sciences program at The University of Texas at Austin awarded 142 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 49% were women and 15% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

Social Sciences Majors to Study

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Economics 4,803
International Relations & Security 4,426
Political Science & Government 1,936
Sociology 1,298
Geography & Cartography 1,076

Below are some popular majors that are similar to social sciences that offer master’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Education 158,506
Psychology 32,270
Communication & Journalism 10,997
Library Science 5,485
History 3,509

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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