2026 Best Value Other Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Other Social Sciences doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 153 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Other Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Capella University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Set in Minneapolis, MN, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,400. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete their Other Social Sciences program here. Median earnings reach $42,189 ten years out. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Capella University report
You'll get strong value at Cornell University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,314. Graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $104,043. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University has an acceptance rate of 9%. Get the full Cornell University report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. The median Other Social Sciences program debt is $23,393. Median earnings reach $81,698 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
Out of the 153 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, San Diego State University landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in San Diego, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Typical Other Social Sciences student debt is $16,417. Median earnings reach $64,909 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%. Read the full report on San Diego State University
A rank of #5 makes Rutgers University Newark one of the best values in the United States. Rutgers University Newark is a public school based in Newark, NJ. Students from in state pay about $17,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,762. The median Other Social Sciences program debt is $25,065. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $74,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%. See the full Rutgers University Newark profile
New York University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. New York University is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. The median Other Social Sciences program debt is $20,188. Graduates go on to earn a median of $82,509 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,188 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants. Read more about New York University
Boston University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Boston University
Glenville State College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. More on Glenville State College
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst profile
International Institute For Restorative Practices placed #10 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about International Institute For Restorative Practices
San Bernardino Valley College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. More on San Bernardino Valley College
Camden County College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. Get the full Camden County College report
Skidmore College
Skidmore College placed #13 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on Skidmore College
Georgia Southern University landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Georgia Southern University
Rose State College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Rose State College
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus placed #16 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
Florida International University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Florida International University
Lincoln University Missouri landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Lincoln University Missouri report
Midland University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Midland University
Oklahoma Wesleyan University landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Oklahoma Wesleyan University profile
University Of Chicago offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on University Of Chicago
Whitman College
Whitman College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Whitman College profile
Cuny Queens College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. See the full Cuny Queens College profile
Fordham University landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Fordham University
Northwest State Community College placed #25 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Northwest State Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Other Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. More on Pennsylvania Western University
University Of Rochester came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Rochester
Columbia University In The City Of New York offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Butler University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. Read more about Butler University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #30 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo report
Williams College
Williams College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Williams College
Carl Albert State College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. More on Carl Albert State College
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus profile
Suny Empire State College placed #34 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Suny Empire State College
Hamline University came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Hamline University
Cleveland State University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Cleveland State University
Suny At Binghamton placed #37 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on Suny At Binghamton
University Of North Alabama came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of North Alabama
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. Read more about The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Marywood University offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Marywood University profile
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
Lake Forest College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Lake Forest College report
University Of Alabama At Birmingham offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. More on University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Cuny Brooklyn College offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Cuny Brooklyn College report
Plymouth State University placed #45 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Plymouth State University
The University Of West Florida came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Get the full The University Of West Florida report
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of California Santa Cruz profile
Northwestern University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Northwestern University
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras report
University Of Southern Maine offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on University Of Southern Maine
Related Other Social Sciences Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Other Social Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Other Social Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Social Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Social Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Social Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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