2026 Best Value Other Social Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Other Social Sciences graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 153 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh 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 analyzed schools to build 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Suny Empire State College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Based in Saratoga Springs, NY, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Suny Empire State College Other Social Sciences students take on a median of $23,693 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,080. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Suny Empire State College
You'll get strong value at University Of Maryland Baltimore County, which ranked #2 this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. The median Other Social Sciences program debt is $21,331. University Of Maryland Baltimore County alumni report median earnings of $69,960 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,331 median debt. About 72% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Maryland Baltimore County report
You'll get strong value at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,403 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 78% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Missouri Columbia
Out of the 153 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #4 spot. Based in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Virginia Commonwealth University Other Social Sciences students take on a median of $23,813 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $58,128. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 93% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Virginia Commonwealth University report
Michigan State University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Other Social Sciences ranking in the United States. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $67,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants. Read more about Michigan State University
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. The median Other Social Sciences program debt is $26,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $102,491. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. About 4% of those who apply are admitted. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of Puerto Rico Humacao offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. More on University Of Puerto Rico Humacao
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga placed #8 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga report
International Institute For Restorative Practices placed #9 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full International Institute For Restorative Practices report
University Of Maine At Presque Isle came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Maine At Presque Isle
Clark University
Clark University landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Clark University
University Of California Riverside placed #12 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of California Riverside
Vassar College
Vassar College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. More on Vassar College
Cleveland State University placed #14 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cleveland State University
George Washington University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read more about George Washington University
American University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. See the full American University profile
Mount Mary College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Mount Mary College
Rose State College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. More on Rose State College
Midland University landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Midland University
University Of New Orleans placed #20 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of New Orleans
Wayne State University offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Wayne State University
Brown University
Brown University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. Get the full Brown University report
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report
San Diego State University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full San Diego State University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Other Social Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Southwestern College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Southwestern College report
Colorado College
Colorado College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Colorado College report
Pennsylvania Western University landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Pennsylvania Western University
University Of California Berkeley came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of California Berkeley report
Coppin State University placed #30 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Coppin State University
Cerritos College
Cerritos College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. Get the full Cerritos College report
University Of Wisconsin Platteville ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. More on University Of Wisconsin Platteville
Kalamazoo College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. Read more about Kalamazoo College
University Of Denver placed #34 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Denver
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. More on Millersville University Of Pennsylvania
Mount Aloysius College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. Get the full Mount Aloysius College report
Oxford Graduate School came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. More on Oxford Graduate School
Rutgers University Newark placed #38 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Rutgers University Newark
Lake Forest College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on Lake Forest College
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Wisconsin Green Bay
Bard College
Bard College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Bard College
The University Of Texas At San Antonio placed #42 among the best-value Other Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full The University Of Texas At San Antonio profile
University Of Chicago ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. More on University Of Chicago
New Mexico Highlands University offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about New Mexico Highlands University
Suny At Purchase College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. Read the full report on Suny At Purchase College
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. More on Cuny Brooklyn College
Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. See the full Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses profile
Madonna University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. See the full Madonna University profile
Suffolk University ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Social Sciences schools. More on Suffolk University
University At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about University At Buffalo
Related Other Social Sciences Value Rankings
Explore 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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