2026 Best Other Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Other Social Sciences doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 153 institutions 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 compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Other Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Cornell University to be the best Other Social Sciences school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Ithaca, NY. Cornell University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. The median Other Social Sciences program debt is $15,005. See the full Cornell University profile
You'll be in good company at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
The strong Other Social Sciences programs at Capella University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Minneapolis, MN, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. Capella University posts a six-year graduation rate of 20%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. More on Capella University
A rank of #4 makes Rutgers University Newark one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Newark, NJ, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. Rutgers University Newark posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Students from in state pay about $17,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,762. Typical Other Social Sciences student debt is $25,065. More on Rutgers University Newark
New York University came in at #5 on this year's Other Social Sciences ranking in the United States. Located in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Graduates carry a median of $20,188 in student loans. More on New York University
San Diego State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Other Social Sciences schools. Set in San Diego, CA, San Diego State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete their Other Social Sciences program here. Read the full report on San Diego State University
Swarthmore College placed #7 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Swarthmore College
Dordt College did well this year, earning the #8 position. See the full Dordt College profile
Madonna University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Other Social Sciences schools. Read more about Madonna University
Butler University placed #10 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Butler University
University Of Puerto Rico Humacao ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Other Social Sciences schools. Get the full University Of Puerto Rico Humacao report
University Of Maine At Presque Isle placed #12 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on University Of Maine At Presque Isle
Wesleyan University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Wesleyan University report
The University Of West Florida ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Other Social Sciences schools. More on The University Of West Florida
Elmira College
Elmira College landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Elmira College
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #16 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo report
Brown University
Brown University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Other Social Sciences schools. Read the full report on Brown University
University Of California Berkeley did well this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on University Of California Berkeley
University Of Denver did well this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on University Of Denver
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Alabama At Birmingham
City College Of San Francisco ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Other Social Sciences schools. Read more about City College Of San Francisco
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #22 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee profile
Glenville State College placed #23 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Glenville State College
International Institute For Restorative Practices landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. More on International Institute For Restorative Practices
Northwestern University placed #25 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Northwestern University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Other Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #26 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Ohio State University Main Campus report
Kalamazoo College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Other Social Sciences schools. See the full Kalamazoo College profile
Wayne State University landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Wayne State University report
Georgia Southern University landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Georgia Southern University report
North Central College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full North Central College profile
Vassar College
Vassar College placed #31 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on Vassar College
Azusa Pacific University did well this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Azusa Pacific University profile
Hamline University did well this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Hamline University profile
University Of La Verne landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of La Verne report
Lincoln University Missouri landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lincoln University Missouri
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #36 in this year's ranking. More on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Concordia University Texas placed #37 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on Concordia University Texas
Morningside College came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Morningside College
University Of Sacred Heart ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Other Social Sciences schools. Read the full report on University Of Sacred Heart
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Other Social Sciences schools. Read the full report on University Of California Santa Cruz
Marywood University did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read the full report on Marywood University
University Of California San Diego came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of California San Diego
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
University Of Pittsburgh Bradford placed #44 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on University Of Pittsburgh Bradford
Eastern Washington University did well this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Eastern Washington University report
Columbus State University placed #46 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Columbus State University profile
Towson University did well this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Towson University profile
New Mexico Highlands University placed #48 among Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full New Mexico Highlands University profile
Northeastern University did well this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Northeastern University report
San Bernardino Valley College came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read more about San Bernardino Valley College
Related Other Social Sciences Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Other Social Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Other Social Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Other Social Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Other Social Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Other Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Other Social Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Other Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 153 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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