2026 Best Social Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Social Sciences undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1707 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Social Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Boston University this year in the United States. Boston University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,102. Graduates carry a median of $25,156 in student loans. See the full Boston University profile
A rank of #2 makes Miami University Oxford one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Oxford, OH. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Miami University Oxford Social Sciences students take on a median of $25,301 in debt. See the full Miami University Oxford profile
A rank of #3 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Saint Paul, MN, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Graduates carry a median of $23,893 in student loans. Get the full University Of St Thomas Minnesota report
You'll be in good company at Wright State University Main Campus, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Dayton, OH, Wright State University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Typical Social Sciences student debt is $26,048. See the full Wright State University Main Campus profile
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #5 on this year's Social Sciences ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Saint Louis, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Typical Social Sciences student debt is $25,260. Read the full report on University Of Missouri St Louis
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical Social Sciences student debt is $23,937. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #7 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Saint Louis University Main Campus Social Sciences students take on a median of $24,378 in debt. See the full Saint Louis University Main Campus profile
The University Of Montana came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Missoula, MT. The University Of Montana graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Graduates carry a median of $24,730 in student loans. More on The University Of Montana
Northern Michigan University landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Northern Michigan University is a public school based in Marquette, MI. Northern Michigan University graduates 53% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,322, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Northern Michigan University Social Sciences students take on a median of $18,876 in debt. Read the full report on Northern Michigan University
Missouri Southern State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Joplin, MO, Missouri Southern State University is a public institution. Missouri Southern State University graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,600, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. The median Social Sciences program debt is $22,241. See the full Missouri Southern State University profile
Central New Mexico Community College placed #11 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. The median Social Sciences program debt is $10,112. See the full Central New Mexico Community College profile
American River College landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Based in Sacramento, CA, American River College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Students borrow a median of $14,105 to complete their Social Sciences program here. Get the full American River College report
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University placed #13 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. More on Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
Los Angeles City College placed #14 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Los Angeles City College profile
Minot State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Social Sciences schools. Get the full Minot State University report
Oglethorpe University landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. See the full Oglethorpe University profile
Thomas More College placed #17 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Thomas More College profile
Central Christian College Of Kansas placed #18 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Central Christian College Of Kansas report
Dyouville College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Read more about Dyouville College
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Estrella Mountain Community College
Ferrum College
Ferrum College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read more about Ferrum College
Frank Phillips College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. More on Frank Phillips College
Mesa State College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Read more about Mesa State College
Southeastern Louisiana University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read more about Southeastern Louisiana University
Southern Connecticut State University landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southern Connecticut State University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Social Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Suny College At Oswego ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Social Sciences schools. More on Suny College At Oswego
The New School
The New School came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Read more about The New School
The University Of Texas At El Paso did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full The University Of Texas At El Paso profile
United States Military Academy placed #29 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. See the full United States Military Academy profile
University Of Phoenix Arizona ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Social Sciences schools. More on University Of Phoenix Arizona
Georgia Southern University landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Georgia Southern University
Lake Tahoe Community College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. See the full Lake Tahoe Community College profile
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington
Shepherd University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Social Sciences schools. Read more about Shepherd University
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences came in at #35 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences
Wheaton College Massachusetts did well this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Wheaton College Massachusetts profile
Avila University
Avila University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Social Sciences schools. Read more about Avila University
De Anza College
De Anza College did well this year, earning the #38 position. Get the full De Anza College report
El Paso Community College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on El Paso Community College
Harvey Mudd College placed #40 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Harvey Mudd College report
Taylor University placed #41 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Taylor University
University Of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Social Sciences schools. Read more about University Of Alaska Fairbanks
University Of North Georgia landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of North Georgia
Wright State University Lake Campus ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Social Sciences schools. More on Wright State University Lake Campus
Clark State Community College placed #45 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Clark State Community College report
Mount Aloysius College landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. More on Mount Aloysius College
New Mexico State University Carlsbad did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about New Mexico State University Carlsbad
Santa Clara University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Social Sciences schools. See the full Santa Clara University profile
Schreiner University placed #49 among Social Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Schreiner University report
Skagit Valley College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Social Sciences schools. Get the full Skagit Valley College report
Related Social Sciences Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Social Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Social Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Social Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Social Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Social Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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 1707 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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